Celery cultivar TBG 29

ABSTRACT

A celery cultivar, designated TBG 29, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of celery cultivar TBG 29, to the plants of celery cultivar TBG 29 and to methods for producing a celery plant by crossing the cultivar TBG 29 with itself or another celery cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a celery plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic celery plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to celery cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from celery cultivar TBG 29, to methods for producing other celery cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from celery cultivar TBG 29 and to the celery plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid celery seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar TBG 29 with another celery cultivar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive celery (Apiumgraveolens var. dulce) variety, designated TBG 29. All publicationscited in this application are herein incorporated by reference.

There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirableplant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis, definition ofproblems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment ofprogram goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. Thenext step is selection of germplasm that possesses the traits to meetthe program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety or hybridan improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm.These important traits may include improved flavor, increased stalk sizeand weight, higher seed yield, improved color, resistance to diseasesand insects, tolerance to drought and heat, and better agronomicquality.

All cultivated forms of celery belong to the species Apium graveolensvar. dulce that is grown for its edible stalk. As a crop, celery isgrown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit theproduction of an economically viable yield. In the United States, theprincipal growing regions are California, Florida, Arizona and Michigan.Fresh celery is available in the United States year-round, although thegreatest supply is from November through January. For planting purposes,the celery season is typically divided into two seasons: summer andwinter, with Florida and the southern California areas harvesting fromNovember to July, and Michigan and northern California harvesting fromJuly to October. Celery is consumed as fresh, raw product and as acooked vegetable.

Celery is a cool-season biennial that grows best from 60° F. to 65° F.(16° C. to 18° C.), but will tolerate temperatures from 45° F. to 75° F.(7° C. to 24° C.). Freezing damages mature celery by splitting thepetioles or causing the skin to peel, making the stalks unmarketable.This can be a problem for crops planted in the winter regions; however,celery can tolerate minor freezes early in the season.

The two main growing regions for celery in California are located alongthe Pacific Ocean: the central coast or summer production area(Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo Counties) and thesouth coast or winter production area (Ventura and Santa BarbaraCounties). A minor region (winter) is located in the southern deserts(Riverside and Imperial Counties).

In the south coast, celery is transplanted from early August to Aprilfor harvest from November to mid-July; in the Santa Maria area, celeryis transplanted from January to August for harvest from April throughDecember. In the central coast, fields are transplanted from March toSeptember for harvest from late June to late December. In the southerndeserts, fields are transplanted in late August for harvest in January.

Commonly used celery varieties for coastal production include Tall Utah52-75, Conquistador and Sonora. Some shippers use their own proprietaryvarieties. Celery seed is very small and difficult to germinate. Allcommercial celery is planted as greenhouse-grown transplants. Celerygrown from transplants is more uniform than from seed and takes lesstime to grow the crop in the field. Transplanted celery is traditionallyplaced in double rows on 40-inch (100-cm) beds with plants spacedbetween 6.0 and 7.0 inches apart.

Celery requires a relatively long and cool growing season (Thephysiology of vegetable crops by Pressman, CAB Intl., New York, 1997).Earlier transplanting results in a longer growing season, increasedyields, and better prices. However, celery scheduled for Spring harvestoften involves production in the coolest weather conditions of Winter, aperiod during which vernalization can occur. If adequate vernalizationoccurs for the variety, bolting may be initiated. Bolting is thepremature rapid elongation of the main celery stem into a floral axis(i.e., during the first year for this normally biennial species).Bolting slows growth as the plant approaches marketable size and leavesa stalk with no commercial value. Different varieties have differentvernalization requirements, but in the presence of bolting, the lengthof the seed stem can be used as a means of measuring bolting tolerancethat exists in each different variety. The most susceptible varietiesreach their vernalization requirement earlier and have time to developthe longest seed stems, while the moderately tolerant varieties takelonger to reach their vernalization requirement and have less time todevelop a seed stem which would therefore be shorter. Under normalproduction conditions, the most tolerant varieties may not achieve theirvernalization requirement and therefore not produce a measurable seedstem.

The coldest months when celery is grown in the United States areDecember, January and February. If celery is going to reach itsvernalization requirements to cause bolting, it is generally youngercelery that is exposed to this cold weather window. This celerygenerally matures in the months of April and May which constitutes whatthe celery industry calls the bolting or seeder window. The bolting orseeder window is a period where seed stems are generally going to impactthe quality of the marketable celery and this is most consistentlyexperienced in celery grown in the Southern California region. Thepresence of seed stems in celery can be considered a major marketabledefect as set forth in the USDA grade standards. If the seed stem islonger than twice the diameter of the celery stalk or eight inches, thecelery no longer meets the standards of US Grade #1. If the seed stem islonger than three times the diameter of the celery stalk, the celery isno longer marketable as US Grade #2 (United States Standards for Gradesof Celery, United States Department of Agriculture, reprinted January1997).

Celery is an allogamous biennial crop. The celery genome consists of 11chromosomes. Its high degree of out-crossing is accomplished by insectsand wind pollination. Pollinators of celery flowers include a largenumber of wasp, bee and fly species. Celery is subject to inbreedingdepression, which appears to be dependent upon the genetic background assome lines are able to withstand selfing for three or four generations.

Celery flowers are protandrous, with pollen being released 3-6 daysbefore stigma receptivity. At the time of stigma receptivity the stamenswill have fallen and the two stigmata unfolded in an upright position.The degree of protandry varies, which makes it difficult to performreliable hybridization, due to the possibility of accidental selfing.

Celery flowers are very small, which significantly hinders easy removalof individual anthers. Furthermore, different developmental stages ofthe flowers in umbels make it difficult to avoid uncontrolledpollinations. The standard hybridization technique in celery consists ofselecting flower buds of the same size and eliminating the older andyounger flowers. Then, the umbellets are covered with glycine paper bagsfor a 5-10 day period, during which the stigmas become receptive. At thetime the flowers are receptive, available pollen or umbellets sheddingpollen from selected male parents are rubbed on to the stigmas of thefemale parent.

Celery plants require a period of vernalization while in the vegetativephase in order to induce seed stalk development. A period of 6-10 weeksat 5° C. to 8° C. when the plants are greater than 4 weeks old isusually adequate for most non-bolting tolerant varieties. Due to a widerange of responses to the cold treatment, it is often difficult tosynchronize crossing, since plants will flower at different times.However, pollen can be stored for 6-8 months at −10° C. in the presenceof silica gel or calcium chloride with a viability decline of only20-40%, thus providing flexibility to perform crosses over a longertime.

For selfing, the plant or selected umbels are caged in cloth bags. Theseare shaken several times during the day to promote pollen release.Houseflies (Musca domestica) can also be introduced weekly into the bagsto perform pollinations.

Celery in general is an important and valuable vegetable crop. Thus, acontinuing goal of celery plant breeders is to develop stable, highyielding celery cultivars that are resistant to diseases andagronomically sound to maximize the amount of yield produced on theland. To accomplish this goal, the celery breeder must select anddevelop celery plants that have the traits that result in superiorcultivars.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations relatedtherewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Otherlimitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill inthe art upon a reading of the specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described inconjunction with systems, tools, and methods which are meant to beexemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In variousembodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have beenreduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to otherimprovements.

According to the invention, there is provided a novel celery cultivardesignated TBG 29. This invention thus relates to the seeds of celerycultivar TBG 29, to the plants of celery cultivar TBG 29 and to methodsfor producing a celery plant by crossing celery TBG 29 with itself oranother celery plant, to methods for producing a celery plant containingin its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgeniccelery plants produced by that method. This invention also relates tomethods for producing other celery cultivars derived from celerycultivar TBG 29 and to the celery cultivar derived by the use of thosemethods. This invention further relates to hybrid celery seeds andplants produced by crossing celery cultivar TBG 29 with another celeryline.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells foruse in tissue culture of celery cultivar TBG 29. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating plants having essentially all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoingcelery plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the samegenotype as the foregoing celery plant. Preferably, the regenerablecells in such tissue cultures will be callus, protoplasts, meristematiccells, leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils,flowers, seeds, petioles and suckers. Still further, the presentinvention provides celery plants regenerated from the tissue cultures ofthe invention.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide methods for producingother celery plants derived from celery cultivar TBG 29. Celerycultivars derived by the use of those methods are also part of theinvention.

The invention also relates to methods for producing a celery plantcontaining in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to thetransgenic celery plant produced by those methods.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for single geneconverted plants of TBG 29. The single transferred gene may preferablybe a dominant or recessive allele. Preferably, the single transferredgene will confer such traits as male sterility, herbicide resistance,insect resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydratemetabolism, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, malefertility, enhanced nutritional quality and industrial usage or thetransferred gene will have no apparent value except for the purpose ofbeing a marker for variety identification. The single gene may be anaturally occurring celery gene or a transgene introduced throughgenetic engineering techniques.

The invention further provides methods for developing celery plant in acelery plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques includingrecurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, restrictionfragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhancedselection and transformation. Seeds, celery plants, and parts thereof,produced by such breeding methods are also part of the invention.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference by thestudy of the following descriptions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the description and tables which follow, a number of terms are used.In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Allele. An allele is any of one or more alternative form of a gene, allof which relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell ororganism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on apair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedlycrosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a firstgeneration hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotype of the F₁ hybrid.

Bacterial blight. A bacterial disease of celery caused by Pseudomonassyringae pv. apii. The initial symptoms appear on the leaves as small,bright yellow, circular spots. As these enlarge with a yellow halo, theyturn to a rust color. As the spots increase in number they merge toeventually kill the leaf tissue. Bacterial blight is favored by cool,wet conditions and at least 10 hours of leaf wetness is required forinfection. The disease is spread by water splashes, farm machinery andfield workers especially when the foliage is wet.

Black streak. A physiological disorder in celery plants causing somepetioles, when cut, to show “black streaks” in the lower half orthroughout the entire length of the petiole, making the entire cropunmarketable. Symptoms can be triggered under field conditions by hightemperatures.

Blackheart. Blackheart is due to a lack of movement of sufficientcalcium that causes the plant to turn brown and begin to decay at thegrowing point of the plant. Celery in certain conditions, such as warmweather, grows very rapidly and is incapable of moving sufficientamounts of calcium to the growing point.

Bolting. The premature development of a flowering or seed stalk, andsubsequent seed, before a plant produces a food crop. Bolting istypically caused by late planting when temperatures are low enough tocause vernalization of the plants.

Bolting period. Also known as the bolting or seeder window, andgenerally occurs in celery that is transplanted from the middle ofDecember through January and matures in April to May. The intensity andactual weeks that bolting may be observed vary from year to year, but itis generally observed in this window.

Bolting tolerance. The amount of vernalization that is required fordifferent celery varieties to bolt is genetically controlled. Varietieswith increased tolerance to bolting require greater periods ofvernalization in order to initiate bolting. A comparison of boltingtolerance between varieties can be measured by the length of theflowering or seed stem under similar vernalization conditions.

Brown stem. A disease caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas cichorii thatcauses petiole necrosis. Brown Stem is characterized by a firm, browndiscoloration throughout the petiole.

Celeriac or Root celery (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum). A plantthat is related to celery but instead of having a thickened andsucculent leaf petiole as in celery, celeriac has an enlarged hypocotyland upper root that is the edible product.

Celery heart. The center most interior petioles and leaves of the celerystalk. They are not only the smallest petioles in the stalk, but theyoungest as well. Some varieties are considered heartless because theygo right from very large petioles to only a couple of very smallpetioles. The heart is comprised of the petioles that are closest to themeristem of the celery stalk. Most hollow stem celery and process typevarieties have very little heart development.

Colletotrichum. One of the most common and important genera ofplant-pathogenic fungi. Causes post-harvest rots, and anthracnose spotsand blights of aerial plant parts. In celery it is also frequentlyaccompanied by curling of the foliage and black heart.

Consumable. Means material that is edible by humans.

Crackstem. The petiole can crack or split horizontally orlongitudinally. Numerous cracks in several locations along the petioleare often an indication that the variety has insufficient boronnutrition. A variety's ability to utilize boron is a physiologicalcharacteristic which is genetically controlled.

Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics. Aplant having essentially all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent, except for the characteristicsderived from the converted gene.

Feather leaf. Feather Leaf is a yellowing of the lower leaves andgenerally occurs in the outer petioles but can also be found on innerpetioles of the stalk. These yellowing leaves which would normallyremain in the harvested stalk are considered unacceptable. Thesepetioles then have to be stripped off in order to meet USDA standardswhich effectively decreases the stalk size and yield.

Flare. The lower, generally wider portion of the petiole which isusually a paler green or white.

Fusarium yellows. A fungal soilborne disease caused by Fusariumoxysporum f sp. apii Race 2. Infected plants turn yellow and arestunted. Some of the large roots may have a dark brown and awater-soaked appearance. The water-conducting tissue (xylem) in thestem, crown, and root show a characteristic orange-brown discoloration.In the later stages of infection, plants remain severely stunted andyellowed and may collapse. The disease appears most severe during warmseasons, and in heavy, wet soils.

Gene. As used herein, “gene” refers to a segment of nucleic acid. A genecan be introduced into a genome of a species, whether from a differentspecies or from the same species, using transformation or variousbreeding techniques.

Genetically modified. Describes an organism that has received geneticmaterial from another organism, or had its genetic material modified,resulting in a change in one or more of its phenotypic characteristics.Methods used to modify, introduce or delete the genetic material mayinclude mutation breeding, genome editing, RNA interference, backcrossconversion, genetic transformation, single and multiple gene conversion,and/or direct gene transfer.

Gross yield (Pounds/Acre). The total yield in pounds/acre of trimmedcelery plants (stalks).

Leaf celery (Apium graveolens L. var. secalinum). A plant that has beendeveloped primarily for leaf and seed production. Often grown inMediterranean climates, leaf celery more closely resembles celery's wildancestors. The stems are small and fragile and vary from solid to hollowand the leaves are fairly small and are generally bitter. This type isoften used for its medicinal properties and spice.

Leaf margin chlorosis. A magnesium deficiency producing an interveinalchlorosis which starts at the margin of leaves.

Maturity date. Maturity in celery can be dictated by two conditions. Thefirst, or true maturity, is the point in time when the celery reachesmaximum size distribution, but before defects such as pith, yellowing,Feather Leaf or Brown Stem appear. The second, or market maturity is anartificial maturity dictated by market conditions, i.e, the marketrequirement may be for 3 dozen sizes so the field is harvested atslightly below maximum yield potential because the smaller sizes arewhat the customers prefer at that moment.

Muck. Muck is a soil made up primarily of humus drained from swampland.It is used for growing specialty crops, such as onions, carrots, celery,and potatoes.

MUN. MUN refers to the MUNSELL Color Chart which publishes an officialcolor chart for plant tissues according to a defined numbering system.The chart may be purchased from the Macbeth Division of KollmorgenInstruments Corporation, 617 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, New York12553-6148.

Petiole. A petiole is the stem or limb of a leaf, the primary portion ofthe celery consumed.

Petiole depth. The average measurement in millimeters of the depth ofthe celery petiole at its narrowest point. The petiole depth measurementis taken from the outside of the petiole (which is the part of thepetiole that faces the outside of the stalk) and is measured to theinside of the petiole or cup or the inner most point of the petiole thatfaces the center of the stalk or heart.

Petiole width. The average measurement of the width of the celerypetiole in millimeters at its widest point. The measurement is takenfrom the side or edge of petiole to the opposite side or edge of thepetiole. The measurement is taken 90 degrees from petiole depth.

Phthalides. One of the chemical compounds that are responsible for thecharacteristic flavor and aroma of celery.

Pith. Pith is a sponginess/hollowness/white discoloration that occurs inthe petioles of celery varieties naturally as they become over-mature.In some varieties it occurs at an earlier stage causing harvest to occurprior to ideal maturity. Pith generally occurs in the outer, olderpetioles first. If it occurs, these petioles are stripped off to makegrade, which effectively decreases the stalk size and overall yieldpotential.

Plant height. The height of the plant from the bottom of the base orbutt of the celery plant to the top of the tallest leaf.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO). An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion ofphenolic compounds to quinones and assists their products'polymerization. The catalysis of PPO, in the presence of oxygen, leadsto the formation of undesirable brown pigments and off-flavoredproducts.

Quantitative Trait Loci. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) refers to geneticloci that control to some degree, numerically representable traits thatare usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant fromtissue culture.

Ribbing. The texture of the exterior surface of the celery petiole canvary from smooth to ribby depending on the variety. Ribbing is thepresence of numerous ridges that run vertically along the petioles ofthe celery plant.

Seed stem. A seed stem is the result of the elongation of the main stemof the celery, which is usually very compressed to almost non-existent,to form the flowering axis. The seed stem or flowering axis can reachseveral feet in height during full flower. The length of the seed stemis measured as the distance from the top of the basal plate (the base ofthe seed stem) to its terminus (the terminal growing point).

Septoria apiicola. A fungus that is the cause of late blight in celery.Symptoms include chlorotic spots that turn brown and necrotic.

Single gene converted. Single gene converted or conversion plant refersto plants which are developed by backcrossing, or via geneticengineering, wherein essentially all of the desired morphological andphysiological characteristics of a line are recovered in addition to thesingle gene transferred into the line via the backcrossing technique orvia genetic engineering.

Stalk. A stalk is a single celery plant that is trimmed with the top orfoliage and the roots removed.

Standard stem celery. A more traditional stem celery with moderate jointlength, to be utilized and marketed as a whole stalk with 12 to 14 inchcut or for hearts in retail environment.

Stringiness. Stringiness is a physiological characteristic that isgenerally associated with strings that get stuck between the consumer'steeth. There are generally two sources of strings in celery. One is thevascular bundle which can be fairly elastic and behave as a string. Thesecond is a strip of particularly strong epidermis cells calledschlerenchyma which are located on the surface of the ridges of thecelery varieties that have ribs.

Suckers. Suckers are auxiliary shoots that form at the base of the stalkor within the auxiliary buds between each petiole. If these shoots formbetween the petioles of the stalk, several petioles have to be strippedoff causing the celery to become smaller and the functional yields to bedecreased.

Tall stem celery. A stem celery with especially long petioles withprimary purpose of being utilized for production of sticks or limbs.

TBG 29 is a new celery cultivar that has shown tremendous potential forproduction in the Ventura County production district of California. Itsurprisingly exhibits higher tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apiirace 2, which allows it to perform better than most cultivars whenfusarium pressure is high. Since there are not currently adequate meansto determine inoculum levels of fusarium in the soil and its infectiouscapabilities, which are dependent on climatic conditions, it is notpossible to adequately ensure yields with celery cultivars that haveinsufficient fusarium tolerance. Celery cultivar TBG 29 fairlyconsistently out yields most celery cultivars when fusarium inoculumlevels are high and surprisingly performs well when fusarium levels arelower or when conditions are not conducive to infection.

Celery cultivar TBG 29 surprisingly has a benefit of having moderatetolerance to bolting which allows it to have a wider production windowin the Ventura County production district; however, it does not haveadequate tolerance to be grown in the strongest bolting inductionproduction window.

Celery cultivar TBG 29 also has good tolerance to pith; however, caremust be taken to time harvest appropriately in order to ensure thatfeather leaf, a defect that occurs with over maturity and is considereda marketable defect by the U.S.D.A. Grades and Standards, does notbecome an issue. TBG 29 is also susceptible to Septoria apiicola so itis a poor candidate for organic production where control measures areinadequate.

Celery cultivar TBG 29 has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics (based primarily on data collected in Oxnard, Calif.):

TABLE 1 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION Maturity: 100 days in Oxnard,California Plant Height: 81.0 cm Number of Outer Petioles (>40 cm): 14.2Number of Inner Petioles (<40 cm): 6.7 Stalk Shape: Cylindrical StalkConformation: Compact Heart Formation: Moderate to full Petiole Length(from butt to first joint): 29.5 cm Petiole Length Class: Medium (20 to30 cm) Petiole Width (at midpoint): 29.0 mm Petiole Thickness (atmidpoint): 11.2 mm Cross Section Shape: Cup Color (un-blanched atharvest): MUN 5GY 6/6 Anthocyanin: Absent Stringiness: Very slightRibbing: Smooth/Slight rib Glossiness: Glossy Leaf Blade Color: MUN 5GY3/4 Bolting tolerance: Moderate tolerance Stress Tolerance: AdaxialCrackstem (Boron Deficiency): Tolerant Abaxial Crackstem (BoronDeficiency): Tolerant Leaf Margin Chlorosis (Magnesium Deficiency):Tolerant Blackheart (Calcium Deficiency): Tolerant Pithiness(Nutritional Deficiency): Tolerant Feather Leaf: Slight tolerance SuckerDevelopment: Tolerant Disease Resistance: Brown Stem (Pseudomonascichorii): Tolerant Bacterial Blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. apii):Tolerant Late Blight (Sptoria apii): Susceptible Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. apii race 2: Tolerant

This invention is also directed to methods for producing a celery plantby crossing a first parent celery plant with a second parent celeryplant, wherein the first parent celery plant or second parent celeryplant is celery cultivar TBG 29. Further, both the first parent celeryplant and second parent celery plant may be from celery cultivar TBG 29.Therefore, any breeding methods using celery cultivar TBG 29 are part ofthis invention, such as selfing, backcrosses, hybrid breeding, andcrosses to populations. Any plants produced using celery cultivar TBG 29as at least one parent are within the scope of this invention.

Additional methods include, but are not limited to, expression vectorsintroduced into plant tissues using a direct gene transfer method suchas microprojectile-mediated delivery, DNA injection, electroporation andthe like. More preferably, expression vectors are introduced into planttissues by using either microprojectile-mediated delivery with abiolistic device or by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.Transformant plants obtained with the protoplasm of the invention areintended to be within the scope of this invention.

Further Embodiments of the Invention

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed theisolation and characterization of genes that encode specific proteinproducts, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a stronginterest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and expressforeign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native, orendogenous, genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order toalter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreignadditional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as“transgenes.” Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods forproducing transgenic plants have been developed, and the presentinvention, in particular embodiments, also relates to transformedversions of the claimed line.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vectorthat will function in plant cells. Such a vector consists of DNAcomprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatoryelement (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain oneor more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. Thevector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or incombination with other plasmids, to provide transformed celery plants,using transformation methods as described below to incorporatetransgenes into the genetic material of the celery plant(s).

Expression Vectors for Celery Transformation: Marker Genes

Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker, operably linkedto a regulatory element (a promoter, for example) that allowstransformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered bynegative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not containthe selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screeningfor the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly usedselectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in thearts, and include, for example, genes that encode for enzymes thatmetabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be anantibiotic or a herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target whichis insensitive to the inhibitor.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is theneomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene, isolated from transposonTn5, which when placed under the control of plant regulatory signalsconfers resistance to kanamycin (Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.U.S.A., 80:4803 (1983)). Another commonly used selectable marker gene isthe hygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to theantibiotic hygromycin (Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 5:299(1985)).

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that conferresistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase,streptomycin phosphotransferase, and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyltransferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant (Hayford et al., PlantPhysiol. 86:1216 (1988), Jones et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210:86 (1987),Svab et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14:197 (1990), Hille et al., Plant Mol.Biol. 7:171 (1986)). Other selectable marker genes confer resistance toherbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate, or bromoxynil (Comai et al.,Nature 317:741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2:603-618(1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242:419-423 (1988)).

Selectable marker genes for plant transformation that are not ofbacterial origin include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase,plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plant acetolactatesynthase (Eichholtz et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 13:67 (1987), Shahet al., Science 233:478 (1986), Charest et al., Plant Cell Rep. 8:643(1990)).

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation require screeningof presumptively transformed plant cells rather than direct geneticselection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxic substance suchas an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify orvisualize the spatiotemporal expression of a gene and are frequentlyreferred to as reporter genes because they are fused to a gene or generegulatory sequence. Commonly used genes for screening presumptivelytransformed cells include α-glucuronidase (GUS), α-galactosidase,luciferase, chloramphenicol, and acetyltransferase (Jefferson, R. A.,Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5:387 (1987), Teeri et al., EMBO J. 8:343 (1989),Koncz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A. 84:131 (1987), DeBlock etal., EMBO J. 3:1681 (1984)).

In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not requiredestruction of plant tissues are available (Molecular Probes publication2908, IMAGENE GREEN, p. 1-4 (1993) and Naleway et al., J. Cell Biol.115:151a (1991)). However, these in vivo methods for visualizing GUSactivity have not proven useful for recovery of transformed cellsbecause of low sensitivity, high fluorescent backgrounds and limitationsassociated with the use of luciferase genes as selectable markers.

More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has beenutilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryoticcells (Chalfie et al., Science 263:802 (1994)). GFP and mutants of GFPmay be used as screenable markers.

Expression Vectors for Celery Transformation: Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotidesequence comprising a regulatory element, such as a promoter. Severaltypes of promoters are now well known in the arts, as are otherregulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination withpromoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNAupstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition andbinding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription inplant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control includethose which preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues,such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, orsclerenchyma. These promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”.Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue arereferred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoterprimarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs,for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoteris a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples ofenvironmental conditions that may effect transcription by induciblepromoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light.Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and induciblepromoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A“constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under mostenvironmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters

An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression incelery. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to anucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linkedto a gene for expression in celery. With an inducible promoter the rateof transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. See Ward etal., Plant Mol. Biol. 22:361-366 (1993). Exemplary inducible promotersinclude, but are not limited to, that from the ACEI system whichresponds to copper (Meft et al., PNAS 90:4567-4571 (1993)); In2 genefrom maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners(Hershey et al., Mol. Gen Genetics 227:229-237 (1991) and Gatz et al.,Mol. Gen. Genetics 243:32-38 (1994)) or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatz etal., Mol. Gen. Genetics 227:229-237 (1991). A particularly preferredinducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent towhich plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter isthe inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptionalactivity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone. Schena etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:0421 (1991).

B. Constitutive Promoters

A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression incelery or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotidesequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a genefor expression in celery.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instantinvention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limitedto, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV(Odell et al., Nature 313:810-812 (1985) and the promoters from suchgenes as rice actin (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2:163-171 (1990));ubiquitin (Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619-632 (1989) andChristensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675-689 (1992)); pEMU (Last etal., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588 (1991)); MAS (Velten et al., EMBO J.3:2723-2730 (1984)) and maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al., Mol. Gen.Genetics 231:276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., Plant Journal 2 (3):291-300 (1992)). The ALS promoter, Xbal/Ncol fragment 5′ to the Brassicanapus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to saidXbal/Ncol fragment), represents a particularly useful constitutivepromoter. See PCT application WO 96/30530.

C. Tissue-Specific or Tissue-Preferred Promoters

A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expressionin celery. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is operably linkedto a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operablylinked to a gene for expression in celery. Plants transformed with agene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter producethe protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, ina specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in theinstant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferredpromoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter,such as that from the phaseolin gene (Murai et al., Science 23:476-482(1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.82:3320-3324 (1985)); a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such asthat from cab or rubisco (Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11):2723-2729 (1985)and Timko et al., Nature 318:579-582 (1985)); an anther-specificpromoter such as that from LAT52 (Twell et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics217:240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as that from Zm13(Guerrero et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 244:161-168 (1993)) or amicrospore-preferred promoter such as that from apg (Twell et al., Sex.Plant Reprod. 6:217-224 (1993)).

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartmentsuch as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall ormitochondrion or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished bymeans of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signalsequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein ofinterest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structuralgene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where theencoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either anintracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion tothe apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art; for example,Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20:49 (1992), Close, P. S., Master'sThesis, Iowa State University (1993), Knox, C., et al., A Structure andOrganization of Two Divergent Alpha-Amylase Genes from Barley, PlantMol. Biol. 9:3-17 (1987), Lerner et al., Plant Physiol. 91:124-129(1989), Fontes et al., Plant Cell 3:483-496 (1991), Matsuoka et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:834 (1991), Gould et al., J. Cell. Biol.108:1657 (1989), Creissen et al., Plant 2:129 (1991), Kalderon, et al.,A short amino acid sequence able to specify nuclear location, Cell39:499-509 (1984), Steifel, et al., Expression of a maize cell wallhydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein gene in early leaf and root vasculardifferentiation, Plant Cell 2:785-793 (1990).

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreignprotein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques forthe selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are wellunderstood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which areharvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein can then beextracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Proteinextraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods whichare discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114:92-6(1981).

According to a preferred embodiment, the transgenic plant provided forcommercial production of foreign protein is celery. In another preferredembodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For the relatively smallnumber of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, agenetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional RFLP, PCR andSSR analysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location ofthe integrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard,see Glick and Thompson, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology andBiotechnology, CRC Press, Boca Raton 269:284 (1993). Map informationconcerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection ofa subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertakenand crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration regioncan be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if thelatter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisonswould involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all ofwhich are conventional techniques.

Through the transformation of celery, the expression of genes can bealtered to enhance disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicideresistance, agronomic quality and other traits. Transformation can alsobe used to insert DNA sequences which control or help controlmale-sterility. DNA sequences native to celery as well as non-native DNAsequences can be transformed into celery and used to alter levels ofnative or non-native proteins. Various promoters, targeting sequences,enhancing sequences, and other DNA or RNA sequences can be inserted intothe genome for the purpose of altering the expression of proteins.Reduction of the activity of specific genes (also known as genesilencing, or gene suppression) is desirable for several aspects ofgenetic engineering in plants.

Many techniques for gene silencing are well known to one of skill in theart, including but not limited to knock-outs (such as by insertion of atransposable element such as mu (Vicki Chandler, The Maize Handbook ch.118 (Springer-Verlag 1994) or other genetic elements such as a FRT, Loxor other site specific integration site, antisense technology (see,e.g., Sheehy et al. (1988) PNAS USA 85:8805-8809; and U.S. Pat. Nos.5,107,065; 5,453,566; and 5,759,829); co-suppression (e.g., Taylor(1997) Plant Cell 9:1245; Jorgensen (1990) Trends Biotech.8(12):340-344; Flavell (1994) PNAS USA 91:3490-3496; Finnegan et al.(1994) Bio/Technology 12: 883-888; and Neuhuber et al. (1994) Mol. Gen.Genet. 244:230-241); RNA interference (Araji et al. (2014) PlantPhysiology 164:1191-1203; Napoli et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:279-289;U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,323; Sharp (1999) Genes Dev. 13:139-141; Zamore etal. (2000) Cell 101:25-33; and Montgomery et al. (1998) PNAS USA95:15502-15507), virus-induced gene silencing (Burton, et al. (2000)Plant Cell 12:691-705; and Baulcombe (1999) Curr. Op. Plant Bio.2:109-113); target-RNA-specific ribozymes (Haseloff et al. (1988) Nature334: 585-591); hairpin structures (Smith et al. (2000) Nature407:319-320; WO 99/53050; and WO 98/53083); MicroRNA (Aukerman& Sakai(2003) Plant Cell 15:2730-2741); ribozymes (Steinecke et al. (1992) EMBOJ. 11:1525; and Perriman et al. (1993) Antisense Res. Dev. 3:253);oligonucleotide mediated targeted modification (e.g., WO 03/076574 andWO 99/25853); Zn-finger targeted molecules (e.g., WO 01/52620; WO03/048345; and WO 00/42219); and other methods or combinations of theabove methods known to those of skill in the art.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes can beexpressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can begenetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomicinterest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are notlimited to, those categorized below:

1. Genes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

A. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated byspecific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene(R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr)gene in the pathogen. A plant line can be transformed with a clonedresistance gene to engineer plants that are resistant to specificpathogen strains. See, for example Jones et al., Science 266:789 (1994)(cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum);Martin et al., Science 262:1432 (1993) (tomato Pto gene for resistanceto Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes a protein kinase); Mindrinoset al., Cell 78:1089 (1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene for resistance toPseudomonas syringae).

B. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a syntheticpolypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser et al., Gene48:109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence of a Btδ-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding 6-endotoxin genes canbe purchased from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., underATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

C. A lectin. See, for example, the disclosure by Van Damme et al., PlantMolec. Biol. 24:25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotide sequences ofseveral Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes.

D. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT application US93/06487, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.The application teaches the use of avidin and avidin homologues aslarvicides against insect pests.

E. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitoror an amylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe et al., J. Biol. Chem.262:16793 (1987) (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinaseinhibitor), Huub et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:985 (1993) (nucleotidesequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I), Sumitani etal., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 57:1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequence ofStreptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase inhibitor).

F. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid andjuvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or anantagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the disclosure byHammock et al., Nature 344:458 (1990), of baculovirus expression ofcloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.

G. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression,disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example, see thedisclosures of Regan, J. Biol. Chem. 269:9 (1994) (expression cloningyields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor), and Pratt etal., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 163:1243 (1989) (an allostatin isidentified in Diploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317 toTomalski et al., who disclose genes encoding insect-specific, paralyticneurotoxins.

H. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc.For example, see Pang et al., Gene 116:165 (1992), for disclosure ofheterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpioninsectotoxic peptide.

I. An enzyme responsible for a hyperaccumulation of a monoterpene, asesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivativeor another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

J. An enzyme involved in the modification, including thepost-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; forexample, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme,a nuclease, a cyclase, a polyphenol oxidase, a transaminase, anesterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, apolymerase, an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural orsynthetic. See PCT application WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et al.,which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA moleculeswhich contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained from ATCCAccession Nos. 39637 and 67152. See also Kramer et al., Insect Biochem.Molec. Biol. 23:691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide sequence of a cDNAencoding tobacco hornworm chitinase, and Kawalleck et al., Plant Molec.Biol. 21:673 (1993), who provide the nucleotide sequence of the parsleyubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.

K. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, see thedisclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:757 (1994), ofnucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griess etal., Plant Physiol. 104:1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotide sequenceof a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

L. A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT application WO 95/16776(disclosure of peptide derivatives of tachyplesin which inhibit fungalplant pathogens) and PCT application WO 95/18855 (teaches syntheticantimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance), the respectivecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

M. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker. Forexample, see the disclosure of Jaynes et al., Plant Sci 89:43 (1993), ofheterologous expression of a cecropin-β, lytic peptide analog to rendertransgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.

N. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. Forexample, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plantcells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease developmenteffected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, aswell as by related viruses. See Beachy et al., Ann. rev. Phytopathol.28:451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upontransformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus,tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etchvirus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus.

O. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived there from.Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in theinsect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect(Taylor et al., Abstract #497, Seventh Int'l Symposium on MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions (Edinburgh, Scotland) (1994) (enzymaticinactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chainantibody fragments)).

P. A virus-specific antibody. For example, Tavladoraki et al., Nature366:469 (1993), shows that transgenic plants expressing recombinantantibody genes are protected from virus attack.

Q. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen ora parasite. Thus, fungal endo-α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitatefungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plantcell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb et al., Bio/Technology10:1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization of a gene which encodesa bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is described by Toubartet al., Plant J. 2:367 (1992).

R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. Forexample, Logemann et al., Bio/Technology 10:305 (1992), have shown thattransgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating gene havean increased resistance to fungal disease.

S. A lettuce mosaic potyvirus (LMV) coat protein gene introduced intoLactuca sativa in order to increase its resistance to LMV infection. SeeDinant et al., Molecular Breeding. 1997, 3: 1, 75-86.

2. Genes that Confer Resistance to an Herbicide:

A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as animidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category codefor mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee et al.,EMBO J. 7:1241 (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 80:449(1990), respectively.

B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant5-enolpyruvlshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and aroA genes,respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate(phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyceshygroscopicus PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acidsand cyclohexones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example,U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 to Shah, et al., which discloses the nucleotidesequence of a form of EPSPS which can confer glyphosate resistance. ADNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCCaccession number 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant geneis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061 to Comai. See alsoUmaballava-Mobapathie in Transgenic Research. 1999, 8: 1, 33-44 thatdiscloses Lactuca sativa resistant to glufosinate. European PatentApplication No. 0 333 033 to Kumada et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374to Goodman et al., disclose nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthetasegenes which confer resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin.The nucleotide sequence of a phosphinothricin-acetyl-transferase gene isprovided in European Patent Application No. 0 242 246 to Leemans et al.DeGreef et al., Bio/Technology 7:61 (1989), describe the production oftransgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding forphosphinothricin acetyl transferase activity. Examples of genesconferring resistance to phenoxy proprionic acids and cyclohexones, suchas sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Accl-S1, Accl-S2 and Accl-S3 genesdescribed by Marshall et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 83:435 (1992).

C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbAand gs+ genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibilla et al.,Plant Cell 3:169 (1991), describe the transformation of Chlamydomonaswith plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotide sequences fornitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker, andDNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC AccessionNos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for aglutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes et al., Biochem. J.285:173 (1992).

D. Acetohydroxy acid synthase, which has been found to make plants thatexpress this enzyme resistant to multiple types of herbicides, has beenintroduced into a variety of plants. See Hattori et al., Mol. Gen.Genet. 246:419, 1995. Other genes that confer tolerance to herbicidesinclude a gene encoding a chimeric protein of rat cytochrome P4507A1 andyeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (Shiota et al., PlantPhysiol., 106:17, 1994), genes for glutathione reductase and superoxidedismutase (Aono et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 36:1687, 1995), and genesfor various phosphotransferases (Datta et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20:619,1992).

E. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) is necessary for the productionof chlorophyll, which is necessary for all plant survival. The protoxenzyme serves as the target for a variety of herbicidal compounds. Theseherbicides also inhibit growth of all the different species of plantspresent, causing their total destruction. The development of plantscontaining altered protox activity which are resistant to theseherbicides are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,288,306; 6,282,837;5,767,373; and international publication WO 01/12825.

3. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

A. Increased iron content of the celery, for example by transforming aplant with a soybean ferritin gene as described in Goto et al., ActaHorticulturae. 2000, 521, 101-109.

B. Decreased nitrate content of leaves, for example by transforming acelery with a gene coding for a nitrate reductase. See for exampleCurtis et al., Plant Cell Report. 1999, 18: 11, 889-896.

C. Increased sweetness of the celery by transferring a gene coding formonellin, which elicits a flavor 100,000 times sweeter than sugar on amolar basis. See Penarrubia et al., Biotechnology. 1992, 10: 561-564.

D. Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforming a plantwith an antisense gene of stearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearicacid content of the plant. See Knultzon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 89:2625 (1992).

E. Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, bytransforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters thebranching pattern of starch. See Shiroza et al., J. Bacteriol. 170:810(1988) (nucleotide sequence of Streptococcus mutantsfructosyltransferase gene), Steinmetz et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 20:220(1985) (nucleotide sequence of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene), Penet al., Bio/Technology 10:292 (1992) (production of transgenic plantsthat express Bacillus lichenifonnis α-amylase), Elliot et al., PlantMolec. Biol. 21:515 (1993) (nucleotide sequences of tomato invertasegenes), Søgaard et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:22480 (1993) (site-directedmutagenesis of barley α-amylase gene), and Fisher et al., Plant Physiol.102:1045 (1993) (maize endosperm starch branching enzyme II).

F. Modified bolting tolerance in plants for example, by transferring agene encoding for gibberellin 2-oxidase (U.S. Pat. No. 7,262,340).Bolting has also been modified using non-transformation methods; seeWittwer, S. H., et al. (1957) Science. 126(3262): 30-31; Booij, R. etal., (1995) Scientia Horticulturae. 63:143-154; and Booij, R. et al.,(1994) Scientia Horticulturae. 58:271-282.

G. Decreased browning of the celery, for example by transforming a plantwith an siRNA, RNAi or microRNA vector, or other suppression sequencecoding for polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to silence the expression of PPOgenes. See Araji et al. (2014) Plant Physiology 164:1191-1203, Chi etal. (2014) BMC Plant Biology 14:62, and Carter, N., (2012) Petition forDetermination of Nonregulated Status: Arctic™ Apple (Malus x domestica)Events GD743 and GS784, received by APHIS.

4. Genes that Control Male-Sterility

A. Introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of atapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemicalN-Ac-PPT; see international publication WO 01/29237.

B. Introduction of various stamen-specific promoters; see internationalpublications WO 92/13956 and WO 92/13957.

C. Introduction of the barnase and the barstar genes; see Paul et al.,Plant Mol. Biol. 19:611-622, 1992).

Methods for Celery Transformation

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, includingbiological and physical, plant transformation protocols. See, forexample, Miki et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA intoPlants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, GlickB. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages67-88. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods forplant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants areavailable. See, for example, Gruber et al., “Vectors for PlantTransformation” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993)pages 89-119.

A. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based onthe natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for example,Horsch et al., Science 227:1229 (1985), Curtis et al., Journal ofExperimental Botany. 1994, 45: 279, 1441-1449, Torres et al., Plant cellTissue and Organic Culture. 1993, 34: 3, 279-285, Dinant et al.,Molecular Breeding. 1997, 3: 1, 75-86. A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenesare plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plantcells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes,respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of theplant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 10:1 (1991).Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods forAgrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided by Gruber et al.,supra, Miki et al., supra, and Moloney et al., Plant Cell Reports 8:238(1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997.

B. Direct Gene Transfer

Several methods of plant transformation collectively referred to asdirect gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative toAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. A generally applicable method ofplant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation whereinDNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm.The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolisticdevice that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/swhich is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes.Russell, D. R., et al. Pl. Cell. Rep. 12(3, January), 165-169 (1993),Aragao, F. J. L., et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 20(2, October), 357-359(1992), Aragao, F. J. L., et al. Pl. Cell. Rep. 12(9, July), 483-490(1993). Aragao, Theor. Appl. Genet. 93: 142-150 (1996), Kim, J.;Minamikawa, T. Plant Science 117: 131-138 (1996), Sanford et al., Part.Sci. Technol. 5:27 (1987), Sanford, J. C., Trends Biotech. 6:299 (1988),Klein et al., Bio/Technology 6:559-563 (1988), Sanford, J. C., PhysiolPlant 7:206 (1990), Klein et al., Biotechnology 10:268 (1992).

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication oftarget cells. Zhang et al., Bio/Technology 9:996 (1991). Alternatively,liposome and spheroplast fusion have been used to introduce expressionvectors into plants. Deshayes et al., EMBO J., 4:2731 (1985), Christouet al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:3962 (1987). Direct uptake ofDNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂) precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol orpoly-L-ornithine have also been reported. Hain et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.199:161 (1985) and Draper et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982).Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues have alsobeen described. Saker, M.; Kuhne, T. Biologia Plantarum 40(4): 507-514(1997/98), Donn et al., In Abstracts of VIIth International Congress onPlant Cell and Tissue Culture IAPTC, A2-38, p 53 (1990); D'Halluin etal., Plant Cell 4:1495-1505 (1992) and Spencer et al., Plant Mol. Biol.24:51-61 (1994). See also Chupean et al., Biotechnology. 1989, 7: 5,503-508.

Following transformation of celery target tissues, expression of theabove-described selectable marker genes allows for preferentialselection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, usingregeneration and selection methods now well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used forproducing a transgenic line. The transgenic line could then be crossed,with another (non-transformed or transformed) line, in order to producea new transgenic celery line. Alternatively, a genetic trait which hasbeen engineered into a particular celery cultivar using the foregoingtransformation techniques could be moved into another line usingtraditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plantbreeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used tomove an engineered trait from a public, non-elite inbred line into anelite inbred line, or from an inbred line containing a foreign gene inits genome into an inbred line or lines which do not contain that gene.As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or theprocess of backcrossing, depending on the context.

Gene Conversions

When the term celery plant, cultivar or celery line is used in thecontext of the present invention, this also includes any geneconversions of that plant. The term “gene converted plant” or locusconverted as used herein refers to those celery plants which aredeveloped by backcrossing, genetic engineering, or mutation, whereinessentially all of the desired morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the one ormore genes transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique,genetic engineering, or mutation.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the line. The term “backcrossing” asused herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back toone of the parental celery plants for that line, backcrossing 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more times to the recurrent parent. The parental celeryplant which contributes the gene for the desired characteristic istermed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to thefact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental celery plant towhich the gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol (Poehlman & Sleper, 1994; Fehr, 1987). In atypical backcross protocol, the original cultivar of interest (recurrentparent) is crossed to a second line (nonrecurrent parent) that carriesthe single gene of interest to be transferred. The resulting progenyfrom this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and theprocess is repeated until a celery plant is obtained wherein essentiallyall of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics ofthe recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in additionto the single transferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalline. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent cultivar ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological,constitution of the original line. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomicallyimportant trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol willdepend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine anappropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods aresimplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominantallele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance itmay be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new line but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not betransgenic, examples of these traits include but are not limited to,male sterility, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydratemetabolism, herbicide resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, orviral disease, insect resistance, enhanced nutritional quality,industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement. These genes aregenerally inherited through the nucleus. Several of these single genetraits are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,777,196, 5,948,957 and5,969,212, the disclosures of which are specifically hereby incorporatedby reference.

Tissue Culture

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture andregeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of celery andregeneration of plants there from is well known and widely published.For example, reference may be had to Teng et al., HortScience. 1992, 27:9, 1030-1032 Teng et al., HortScience. 1993, 28: 6, 669-1671, Zhang etal., Journal of Genetics and Breeding. 1992, 46: 3, 287-290, Webb etal., Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 1994, 38: 1, 77-79, Curtis etal., Journal of Experimental Botany. 1994, 45: 279, 1441-1449, Nagata etal., Journal for the American Society for Horticultural Science. 2000,125: 6, 669-672, and Ibrahim et al., Plant Cell, Tissue and OrganCulture. (1992), 28(2): 139-145. It is clear from the literature thatthe state of the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants areroutinely used and have a very high rate of success. Thus, anotheraspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth anddifferentiation produce celery plants having the physiological andmorphological characteristics of variety TBG 29.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a compositioncomprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or acollection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplarytypes of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, meristematic cells, andplant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plantsor parts of plants, such as leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips,anthers, pistils, flowers, seeds, petioles, suckers and the like. Meansfor preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in theart. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been usedto produce regenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185, 5,973,234 and5,977,445 describe certain techniques, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Additional Breeding Methods

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a celery plantby crossing a first parent celery plant with a second parent celeryplant wherein the first or second parent celery plant is a celery plantof cultivar TBG 29. Further, both first and second parent celery plantscan come from celery cultivar TBG 29. Thus, any breeding methods usingcelery cultivar TBG 29 are part of this invention, such as selfing,backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like.All plants produced using celery cultivar TBG 29 as at least one parentare within the scope of this invention, including those developed fromcultivars derived from celery cultivar TBG 29. Advantageously, thiscelery cultivar could be used in crosses with other, different, celeryplants to produce the first generation (F₁) celery hybrid seeds andplants with superior characteristics. The cultivar of the invention canalso be used for transformation where exogenous genes are introduced andexpressed by the cultivar of the invention. Genetic variants createdeither through traditional breeding methods using celery cultivar TBG 29or through transformation of cultivar TBG 29 by any of a number ofprotocols known to those of skill in the art are intended to be withinthe scope of this invention.

The following describes breeding methods that may be used with celerycultivar TBG 29 in the development of further celery plants. One suchembodiment is a method for developing cultivar TBG 29 progeny celeryplants in a celery plant breeding program comprising: obtaining thecelery plant, or a part thereof, of cultivar TBG 29 utilizing said plantor plant part as a source of breeding material, and selecting a celerycultivar TBG 29 progeny plant with molecular markers in common withcultivar TBG 29 and/or with morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics selected from the characteristics listed in Table 1.Breeding steps that may be used in the celery plant breeding programinclude pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding, andrecurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such asRFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (for exampleSSR markers) and the making of double haploids may be utilized.

Another method involves producing a population of celery cultivar TBG 29progeny celery plants, comprising crossing cultivar TBG 29 with anothercelery plant, thereby producing a population of celery plants, which, onaverage, derive 50% of their alleles from celery cultivar TBG 29. Aplant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbedwith a celery cultivar resulting from these successive filialgenerations. One embodiment of this invention is the celery cultivarproduced by this method and that has obtained at least 50% of itsalleles from celery cultivar TBG 29.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how toevaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is nosignificant difference between the two traits expressed by thosevarieties. For example, see Fehr and Walt, Principles of CultivarDevelopment, p 261-286 (1987). Thus the invention includes celerycultivar TBG 29 progeny celery plants comprising a combination of atleast two cultivar TBG 29 traits selected from the group consisting ofthose listed in Table 1 or the cultivar TBG 29 combination of traitslisted in the Summary of the Invention, so that said progeny celeryplant is not significantly different for said traits than celerycultivar TBG 29 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown inthe same environmental conditions. Using techniques described herein,molecular markers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a celerycultivar TBG 29 progeny plant. Mean trait values may be used todetermine whether trait differences are significant, and preferably thetraits are measured on plants grown under the same environmentalconditions. Once such a variety is developed its value is substantialsince it is important to advance the germplasm base as a whole in orderto maintain or improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, pestresistance, and plant performance in extreme environmental conditions.

Progeny of celery cultivar TBG 29 may also be characterized throughtheir filial relationship with celery cultivar TBG 29, as for example,being within a certain number of breeding crosses of celery cultivar TBG29. A breeding cross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into theprogeny, and is distinguished from a cross, such as a self or a sibcross, made to select among existing genetic alleles. The lower thenumber of breeding crosses in the pedigree, the closer the relationshipbetween celery cultivar TBG 29 and its progeny. For example, progenyproduced by the methods described herein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5breeding crosses of celery cultivar TBG 29.

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plantreproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and thetype of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, purelinecultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superiorindividual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective,whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based onmean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of relatedplants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection,modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.

The complexity of inheritance influences the choice of breeding method.Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes fora highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach hasbeen used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Variousrecurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitativelyinherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrentselection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination,the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and thenumber of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.

Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation ofthe efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria varydepending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain fromselection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, theoverall value of the advanced breeding lines, and the number ofsuccessful cultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, perdollar expended, etc.).

Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared toappropriate standards in environments representative of the commercialtarget area(s) for at least three years. The best lines are candidatesfor new commercial cultivars; those still deficient in a few traits areused as parents to produce new generations for further selection.

These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing anddistribution, usually take from ten to twenty years from the time thefirst cross or selection is made. Therefore, development of newcultivars is a time-consuming process that requires precise forwardplanning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes indirection.

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that aregenetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic valueis masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors.One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performancerelative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standardcultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicatedobservations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

The goal of celery plant breeding is to develop new, unique and superiorcelery cultivars. The breeder initially selects and crosses two or moreparental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection, producingmany new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoretically generatebillions of different genetic combinations via crossing, selfing andmutations. The breeder has no direct control at the cellular level.Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line, or even verysimilar lines, having the same celery traits.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to thenext generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and differentgeographical, climatic and soil conditions and further selections arethen made, during and at the end of the growing season. The cultivarsthat are developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is becausethe breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no controlat the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and withmillions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. Abreeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resultinglines he/she develops, except possibly in a very gross and generalfashion. The same breeder cannot produce the same line twice by usingthe exact same original parents and the same selection techniques. Thisunpredictability results in the expenditure of large research monies todevelop superior celery cultivars.

The development of commercial celery cultivars often starts with crossesbetween different commercial varieties and/or germplasm at differentstages in development. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selectionbreeding methods are used to develop cultivars from breedingpopulations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or morevarieties or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from whichcultivars are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new cultivars are crossed with other varieties and the hybrids fromthese crosses are evaluated to determine which have commercialpotential.

Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement ofself-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops. Twoparents which possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed toproduce an F₁. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one or severalF₁'s or by intercrossing two F₁'s (sib mating). Selection of the bestindividuals usually begins in the F₂ population; then, beginning in theF₃, the best individuals in the best families are selected. Replicatedtesting of families, or hybrid combinations involving individuals ofthese families, often follows in the F₄ generation to improve theeffectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At anadvanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F₆ and F₇), the best lines ormixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potentialrelease as new cultivars.

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations ofeither self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variablepopulation of heterozygous individuals is either identified or createdby intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selectedbased on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellentcombining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a newpopulation in which further cycles of selection are continued.

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simplyinherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivaror line that is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to betransferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant is expectedto have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and thedesirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After the initialcross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent areselected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent.The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrentparent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from thedonor parent.

In the strictest sense, the single-seed descent procedure refers toplanting a segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed perplant, and using the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. Whenthe population has been advanced from the F₂ to the desired level ofinbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace todifferent F₂ individuals. The number of plants in a population declineseach generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plantsto produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F₂ plantsoriginally sampled in the population will be represented by a progenywhen generation advance is completed.

Genetic Analysis

In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plant can alsobe examined. There are many laboratory-based techniques available forthe analysis, comparison and characterization of a plants genotype.Among these are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Amplified Fragment Length polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats(SSRs—which are also referred to as Microsatellites), and SingleNucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Isozyme Electrophoresis and RFLPs have been widely used to determinegenetic composition. Shoemaker and Olsen, (Molecular Linkage Map ofSoybean (Glycine max) p. 6.131-6.138 in S. J. O'Brien (ed) Genetic Maps:Locus Maps of Complex Genomes, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y., (1993)) developed a molecular genetic linkage mapthat consisted of 25 linkage groups with about 365 RFLP, 11 RAPD, threeclassical markers and four isozyme loci. See also, Shoemaker, R. C.,RFLP Map of Soybean, p 299-309, in Phillips, R. L. and Vasil, I. K.,eds. DNA-Based Markers in Plants, Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, theNetherlands (1994).

The invention further provides a method of determining the genotype of aplant of celery cultivar TBG 29, or a first generation progeny thereof,which may comprise obtaining a sample of nucleic acids from said plantand detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality of polymorphisms. Thismethod may additionally comprise the step of storing the results ofdetecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium.The plurality of polymorphisms are indicative of and/or give rise to theexpression of the morphological and physiological characteristics ofcelery cultivar TBG 29.

With any of the genotyping techniques mentioned herein, polymorphismsmay be detected when the genotype and/or sequence of the plant ofinterest is compared to the genotype and/or sequence of one or morereference plants. The polymorphism revealed by these techniques may beused to establish links between genotype and phenotype. Thepolymorphisms may thus be used to predict or identify certain phenotypiccharacteristics, individuals, or even species. The polymorphisms aregenerally called markers. It is common practice for the skilled artisanto apply molecular DNA techniques for generating polymorphisms andcreating markers. The polymorphisms of this invention may be provided ina variety of mediums to facilitate use, e.g. a database or computerreadable medium, which may also contain descriptive annotations in aform that allows a skilled artisan to examine or query the polymorphismsand obtain useful information.

SSR technology is currently the most efficient and practical markertechnology; more marker loci can be routinely used and more alleles permarker locus can be found using SSRs in comparison to RFLPs. Forexample, Diwan and Cregan described a highly polymorphic microsatellitelocus in soybean with as many as 26 alleles. (Diwan, N. and Cregan, P.B., Theor. Appl. Genet. 95:22-225, 1997.) SNPs may also be used toidentify the unique genetic composition of the invention and progenyvarieties retaining that unique genetic composition. Various molecularmarker techniques may be used in combination to enhance overallresolution.

Molecular markers, which include markers identified through the use oftechniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, RFLPs, RAPDs, AP-PCR, DAF,SCARs, AFLPs, SSRs, and SNPs, may be used in plant breeding. One use ofmolecular markers is Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping. QTL mappingis the use of markers which are known to be closely linked to allelesthat have measurable effects on a quantitative trait. Selection in thebreeding process is based upon the accumulation of markers linked to thepositive effecting alleles and/or the elimination of the markers linkedto the negative effecting alleles from the plant's genome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for theselection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked toalleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles ofinterest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles ofinterest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also beused to select toward the genome of the recurrent parent and against themarkers of the donor parent. This procedure attempts to minimize thegenomic contribution from the donor parent that remains in the selectedplants, and can reduce the number of back-crosses necessary to generatecoisogenic plants. This procedure is often called genetic markerenhanced selection or marker-assisted selection. For example,characterization of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes and the developmentof their functional markers can be of great importance formarker-assisted selection in celery breeding to select for reducedbrowning, such as those that have been developed in wheat. (He, X. Y.et. al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 115:47-58, 2007.) Molecular markers mayalso be used to identify and exclude certain sources of germplasm asparental varieties or ancestors of a plant by providing a means oftracking genetic profiles through crosses.

Particular markers used for these purposes are not limited to the set ofmarkers disclosed herein, but may include any type of marker and markerprofile which provides a means of distinguishing varieties. In additionto being used for identification of celery cultivar TBG 29, a hybridproduced through the use of TBG 29, and the identification orverification of pedigree for progeny plants produced through the use ofTBG 29, a genetic marker profile is also useful in developing a locusconversion of TBG 29.

Means of performing genetic marker profiles using SNP and SSRpolymorphisms are well known in the art. SNPs are genetic markers basedon a polymorphism in a single nucleotide. A marker system based on SNPscan be highly informative in linkage analysis relative to other markersystems in that multiple alleles may be present.

TBG 29 and its plant parts can be identified through a molecular markerprofile. Such plant parts may be either diploid or haploid. Alsoencompassed within the scope of the invention are plants and plant partssubstantially benefiting from the use of TBG 29 in their development,such as TBG 29 comprising a locus conversion.

Molecular data from TBG 29 may be used in a plant breeding process.Nucleic acids may be isolated from a seed of TBG 29 or from a plant,plant part, or cell produced by growing a seed of TBG 29, or from a seedof TBG 29 with a locus conversion, or from a plant, plant part, or cellof TBG 29 with a locus conversion. One or more polymorphisms may beisolated from the nucleic acids. A plant having one or more of theidentified polymorphisms may be selected and used in a plant breedingmethod to produce another plant.

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits intocelery varieties. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificiallyinduced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. Thegoal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for adesired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by manydifferent means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissueculture conditions, radiation (such as X-rays, Gamma rays, neutrons,Beta radiation, or ultraviolet radiation), chemical mutagens (such asbase analogs like 5-bromo-uracil), alkylating agents (such as sulfurmustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethyleneamines, sulfates,sulfonates, sulfones, or lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acidor acridines. Once a desired phenotype is observed the genetic mutationresponsible for that trait may then be incorporated into existinggermplasm by traditional breeding techniques. Details of mutationbreeding can be found in Principles of Cultivar Development by Fehr,Macmillan Publishing Company, 1993.

The production of double haploids can also be used for the developmentof homozygous varieties in a breeding program. Double haploids areproduced by doubling a set of chromosomes from a heterozygous plant toproduce a completely homozygous individual. For example, see Wan et al.,Theor. Appl. Genet., 77:889-892, 1989.

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used fordifferent traits and crops can be found in several reference books(e.g., Principles of Plant Breeding John Wiley and Son, pp. 115-161,1960; Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr, 1987; ACarrots and Related Vegetable Umbelliferae, Rubatzky, V. E., et al.,1999).

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level ofsuperiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition toshowing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivarthat is compatible with industry standards or which creates a newmarket. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional coststo the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer for specialadvertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial productionpractices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release ofa new cultivar should take into consideration research and developmentcosts as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. Forseed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easilyand economically.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which celery plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as leaves, pollen, embryos, roots,root tips, anthers, pistils, flowers, seeds, petioles, suckers and thelike.

Industrial Uses of Celery Cultivar TBG 29

Celery may be used in a variety of manners including but not limited to,use in salads, soups, being filled with cheese, soybean, vegetable,peanut butter or dairy type products, served raw, cooked, baked orfrozen, served as sticks, pieces, diced, or dipped like potato chips, orused as straws.

TABLES

In the tables that follow, the traits and characteristics of celerycultivar TBG 29 are given compared to other celery cultivars. Colorreferences made in the Tables refer to the Munsell Color Chart.

Tables 2-9 show the results of trials grown in a field in Oxnard, Calif.that was created with especially high inoculum levels of Fusariumoxysporum race 2 in order to develop and evaluate cultivars for fusariumtolerance. This field has had two celery crops produced on it in everyyear since the 1980's with no rotation or attempt to diminish inoculumlevels and is one of the most heavily infested fields in existence.

Under these conditions, celery cultivar TBG 29 consistently expressedimproved tolerance to fusarium, as indicated by fusarium levels in theroot and overall performance ratings, except for Tables 4, 5, 7 and 8where TBG 29 was similar to ADS-22 for tolerance. Surprisingly, in allof these trials (Tables 2-9) TBG 29 had the highest yield potential asdemonstrated by whole plant and trimmed plant weight.

Celery cultivar TBG 29 frequently produced the widest (Tables 2-4, 6, 7,8 and 9) and thickest petioles (Tables 2-5, 8 and 9).

Table 2 shows the results of a trial comparing characteristics of celerycultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20,Conquistador, Sonora and Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain. The trial wastransplanted in Oxnard, Calif. on Aug. 12, 2009 and evaluated Dec. 10,2009 (120 days). The trial was grown in a production block that wasdeveloped with especially high levels of Fusarium oxysporum f sp. apiirace 2 levels in order to evaluate and develop varieties for increasedtolerance to the disease. Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain was considered thesusceptible comparison variety. The plant population (58,080 plants tothe acre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. Table 2, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-9 show the results for TBG 29, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33,ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora and Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 2 Tall Utah Conquis- 52-70 ‘R’ TBG 29 ADS-1 ADS-22 TBG 33 ADS-20tador Sonora Strain Plant Height (cm) Average 74.3 57.7 77.2 67.2 52.850.9 53.7 49.3 Range (72-79) (51-62) (74-82) (60-75) (47-60) (47-58)(49-57) (43-54)   Whole Plant Average  1.00  0.42  0.91  0.56  0.48 0.41  0.44  0.35 Weight (kg) Range (0.76-1.3)  (0.22-0.64) (0.47-1.28)(0.29-0.99) (0.29-0.71) (0.26-0.64) (0.29-0.73) (0.22-0.45)   TrimmedPlant Average  0.78  0.36  0.71  0.46  0.43  0.38  0.35  0.31 Weight(kg) Range (0.61-0.9)   (0.2-0.56) (0.37-0.94) (0.24-0.82) (0.26-0.63)(0.23-0.56)  (0.2-0.61) (0.2-0.41)  Number of Outer Average 11.6  7.2 9.9  7.5  7.8  7.2  9.2  7.0 Petioles (>40 cm) Range  (9-13) (6-8) (7-12) (6-9)  (6-10) (6-8)  (6-11) (5-10)  Number of Inner Average  5.4 4.4  6.6  4.7  3.5  5.2  5.2  4.5 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (4-6) (3-7)(5-8) (4-6) (3-4) (3-7) (3-7) (2-6)   Length of Outer Average 25.6 20.523.9 23.5 29.5 20.3 22.4 22.6 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range (23.7-27.7)(19.3-21.3)   (20-25.3) (19.7-27.7) (19.3-92)   (16.7-22.7) (19.3-26.3)(19-24.7) Width of Outer Average 24.5 15.7 23.4 18.5 16.9 14.5 15.5 14.3Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (19.7-27)   (12.7-19.7) (18.7-26.7)(13.3-26)   (13.3-20.3)   (12-17.7) (12.3-19.3) (12-17.3) Thickness ofOuter Average  9.9  7.5  9.4  7.7  6.8  6.4  6.3  6.8 Petioles @ midrib(mm) Range (8.7-11)  (5.7-9.3)  (7.7-10.3) (6.7-9.7) (5.7-9.3) (3.7-7.3)(4.7-9)   (6-8.7) Petiole Color 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/65GY 5/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6 (Munsell Color) Leaf Color 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 (Munsell Color) PetioleSmoothness Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth Smooth/ Smooth/ Slight Rib Smooth RibSlight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup CupSlight Cup Slight Slight Cup Cup/Cup Cup/Cup Fusarium Overall 5  2-3 4-52-3 1-2 1-2 1-2 1  Ratings [1 to 5 Root 5  2-3 4-5 2-3 1-2 1-2 1-2 1  (1= susceptible, 5 = tolerant)]

As shown in Table 2, under conditions with high fusarium levels, celerycultivar TBG 29 was the most tolerant of all varieties for fusarium(overall and root), with ADS-22 being most similar. ADS-22 was also themost similar variety for overall characteristics and was taller forplant height, but was not as good for whole or trimmed plant weight, ornumber of outer petioles, length, width or thickness of the outerpetioles. ADS-22 was similar for plant color and petiole cupping, butwas smoother compared to TBG 29. None of the other celery varieties werecomparable to celery cultivar TBG 29 for whole or trimmed weight, outerpetiole count or petiole width and thickness.

Table 3 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onAug. 10, 2012 and evaluated Nov. 30, 2012 (112 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34,ADS-1, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger andCommand. This trial was grown in a production block that was developedwith especially high levels of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii race 2levels in order to evaluate and develop varieties for increasedtolerance to the disease. The plant population (58,080 plants to theacre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. Table 3, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-11 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, TBG 33,ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger and Command,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 3 Conquis- TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 TBG 33 ADS-20 tador Plant Height(cm) Average 79   64   59  67   53   46  Range (76-85) (60-68) (52-64)(58-76) (48-58) (36-55) Trimmed Plant Average  1.05  0.49   0.60  0.51 0.28   0.31 Weight (kg) Range (0.36-1.38) (0.35-0.62) (0.35-0.79)(0.19-0.75) (0.10-0.46) (0.15-0.57) Number of Outer Average 14.7 8.5 11.6 9.8 6.2   6.8 Petioles Range (12-17)  (8-10) (10-14)  (7-12) (4-8)(4-8) Number of Inner Average  5.2 3.8   4.8 3.5 2.5   4.1 PetiolesRange (5-6) (3-5) (3-6) (2-4) (2-3) (3-6) Length of Outer Average 24.327.4   22.9  26.5 24.5   18.3 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range   (20-29.7)(25-30) (21.0-25.0) (24.3-31.0) (20.0-28.7) (14.0-21.7) Width of OuterAverage 25.3 21.9   20.5  22.1 17.1   15.6 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range(21.3-28.7) (19.7-24.7) (17.0-23.0) (15.0-27.3) (10.7-21.3) (11.0-20.0)Thickness of Outer Average 11.0 9.2   9.4 8.5 8.3   8.1 Petioles @midrib (mm) Range (10-12) (7.7-10)   (6.7-10.3) (7.3-9.3)  (6.0-10.0) (4.0-21.7) Petiole Smoothness Smooth Smooth/ Smooth Smooth/ SmoothSmooth/ Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup CupSlight Cup Cup Cup/Cup Cup/Cup % Hearts 0% 0% 0% 80% 10% 20% %Marketable 100%  80%  90%  80% 10% 20% Overall Fusarium Average 4  3   22.5 2.5 2 Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 3-4 2-5 2 2-3 2-3 2 5 =tolerant) Root Fusarium Average  4.5 3   3 3   3   2 Ratings(1 =susceptible, Range  4.5 3-4 3 2-3 3   2 5 = tolerant) Defects: % Pith 0%0% 0%  0%  0%  0% Sonora Mission Challenger Command Plant Height (cm)Average 55   58  74   75   Range (52-61) (51-61) (58-81) (69-81) TrimmedPlant Average  0.35   0.38  0.70  0.76 Weight (kg) Range (0.19-0.52)(0.27-0.51) (0.12-1.04) (0.30-1.12) Number of Outer Average 7.2   7.38.4 10.2 Petioles Range (5-9) (6-8)  (6-12)  (8-12) Number of InnerAverage 3.6   3.8 3.6  3.7 Petioles Range (3-5) (3-5) (1-5) (3-5) Lengthof Outer Average 21.7   23.7 27.5  29.8 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range(19.7-26.3) (22.0-26.3) (24.0-30.3) (26.3-33.7) Width of Outer Average19.7   18.7 23.6  22.2 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (14.0-23.7)(15.0-21.0) (11.7-27.7) (15.7-26.7) Thickness of Outer Average 7.7   8.110.8  10.3 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (6.7-9.7) (7.7-9.0)  (5.7-13.0) (8.0-12.0) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Slight Rib Smooth Smooth SlightRib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup % Hearts 20% 0%  0%  0% % Marketable 20%30%  80% 90% Overall Fusarium Average 2.5 2 2.5  2.5 Ratings(1 =susceptible, Range 2-3 2 1-5 2-3 5 = tolerant) Root Fusarium Average 2  2 2.5 2  Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 2   2 1-5 1-3 5 = tolerant)Defects: % Pith  0% 0% 30% 90%

As shown in Table 3, under especially high fusarium conditions celerycultivar TBG 29 had the best fusarium tolerance, both overall and root,compared to the other varieties. TBG 29 was also significantly improvedfor plant height, trimmed plant weight, number of outer and innerpetioles, width of outer petiole and, except for Challenger, thicknessof outer petioles. TBG 29 had longer outer petioles compared to allvarieties except TBG 34, TBG 33, ADS-20, Challenger and Command.

Tables 4A and 4B show the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard,Calif. on Aug. 10, 2013 and evaluated Dec. 9, 2013 (121 days) comparingthe characteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission,Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. Thetrial was grown in a production block that was developed with especiallyhigh levels of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii race 2 levels in order toevaluate and develop varieties for increased tolerance to the disease.Approaching maturity, the foliar disease control program was halted onthis trial in order to allow Septoria apiicola to develop. Oncedeveloped, ratings were taken on the varieties in order to determinetolerance levels. The plant population (58,080 plants to the acre) washigher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plantsto the acre. Table 4A, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-8show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20 andConquistador, respectively. Table 4B, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-8 show the results for TBG 29, Sonora, Mission,Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant. The septoria ratings areshown on a scale from 1 to 9, where 1 means tolerant and 9 meanssusceptible.

TABLE 4A Conquis- TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 TBG 33 ADS-20 tador PlantHeight (cm) Average  82.6 79.0 71.6   82.2 76.9  62.0  64.7  Range(80-86) (76-83) (63-76) (77-87) (74-83) (56-69) (57-73) Whole PlantAverage   1.39  0.50  0.81   1.01  0.36  0.23  0.78 Weight (kg) Range(0.99-1.90) (0.43-0.65) (0.52-1.24) (0.65-1.29) (0.24-0.55) (0.16-0.31)(0.23-1.13) Trimmed Plant Average   1.08  0.39  0.64   0.78  0.28  0.19 0.60 Weight (kg) Range (0.78-1.50) (0.34-0.50) (0.42-1.01) (0.51-1.04)(0.19-0.40) (0.15-0.25) (0.19-0.83) Number of Outer Average  11.5 10.29.4  12.0 9.7 7.7 11.2  Petioles (>40 cm) Range  (9-16)  (9-12)  (8-11) (9-15)  (8-11) (6-9)  (8-14) Number of Inner Average   5.5  5.3 5.4  5.8 4.4 4.7 4.9 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (4-8) (4-6) (3-9) (3-9) (3-5)(3-6) (2-7) Length of Outer Average  28.9 31.8 27.1   24.9 29.7  26.5 26.4  Petioles @ joint (cm) Range (25.7-30.3) (28.3-36)   (24.0-32.3)(23.3-27.7) (27.3-32.3) (23.7-30.0) (22.3-30.0) Width of Outer Average 30.2 29.6 22.8   25.7 28.7  19.1  19.6  Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range(28.7-31.3)   (26-32.3) (19.0-28.0) (22.3-30.0) (18.7-90.3) (17.3-21.3)(13.3-23.7) Thickness of Outer Average  11.6 10.6 9.7   9.7 9.9 9.4 9.0Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (10.3-13.3)   (10-11.3)  (7.7-11.7) (9.0-10.3)  (9.0-11.0)  (7.7-10.7)  (7.0-10.0) Petiole Color 5GY 7/85GY 7/6 5GY 7/8 5GY 7/8 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/8 (Munsell Color) LeafColor 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/6 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/6 (MunsellColor) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Smooth Smooth/ Smooth Slight RibSmooth Smooth Slight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup Slight CupSlight Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup/Cup Root Fusarium Average 5 3  2.5 4 2.5 2.51.5 Ratings [1 to 5 Range 4-5 2-5 2-3 4 1-4 2-3 1-2 (1 = susceptible, 5= tolerant)] Overall Fusarium Average 5  4.5 3   5 3   1.5 2.5 Ratings[1 to 5 Range 5 4-5 3-4 5 2-5 1-2 1-4 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant)]Septoria Ratings 7 3  5   9 4   1   1   [1 to 9 (1 = tolerant, 9 =Susceptible)] Defects: % Brown Stem 0%  0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Node Crack0% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Pith 50%  30% 0% 90%  70%  0% 80% 

TABLE 4B Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah TBG 29 Sonora Mission ChallengerCommand Strain 52-75 Plant Height (cm) Average 82.6 62.4   63.0 77.375.2 54.6   63.6 Range (80-86) (56-67) (39-69) (70-86) (69-82) (49-62)(60-68) Whole Plant Average  1.39  0.63   0.85  0.89  0.92  0.48   0.60Weight (kg) Range (0.99-1.90) (0.28-1.82) (0.30-1.11) (0.68-1.21)(0.42-1.24) (0.14-0.95) (0.37-1.19) Trimmed Plant Average  1.08  0.54  0.70  0.72  0.72  0.42   0.51 Weight (kg) Range (0.78-1.50)(0.25-0.70) (0.24-0.95) (0.54-0.99) (0.32-0.97) (0.13-0.84) (0.33-1.03)Number of Outer Average 11.5 9.3  11.4  9.8 12.9 8.8   8.6 Petioles (>40cm) Range  (9-16)  (7-11)  (6-14)  (9-11)  (8-19)  (7-11)  (8-10) Numberof Inner Average  5.5 5.1   5.0  4.2  4.7 5.3   4.9 Petioles (<40 cm)Range (4-8) (3-7) (3-6) (2-6) (2-6) (3-7) (3-8) Length of Outer Average28.9 24.4   26.5 27.5 29.7 23.2   24.3 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range(25.7-30.3) (22.7-26.3) (24.7-28.7) (24.3-30.7) (26.7-32.3) (21.7-25.3)(21.0-26.7) Width of Outer Average 30.2 19.9   19.8 24.3 20.9 18.4  19.6 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (28.7-31.3) (14.7-23.0) (14.3-23.7)(20.3-29.0) (16.3-23.0) (10.0-25.0) (16.7-25.7) Thickness of OuterAverage 11.6 8.8   9.3 11.2  9.9 9.3   9.2 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range(10.3-13.3)  (7.7-10.0)  (7.3-10.3)  (9.3-12.7)  (8.3-11.0)  (6.7-11.3) (7.3-13.3) Petiole Color 5GY 7/8 5GY 7/8 5GY 7/8 5GY 6/8 5GY 6/8 5GY7/8 5GY 7/8 (Munsell Color) Leaf Color 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/8 5GY 4/8 5GY 4/65GY 4/6 5GY 4/8 5GY 4/6 (Munsell Color) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth/ Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight RibSlight Rib Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup Cup Cup Slight CupSlight Cup Slight Cup/Cup Cup/cup Root Fusarium Average 5  1.5 2 4  2 1.5 1 Ratings [1 to 5 Range 4-5 1-2 2 3-4 2  1-2 1 (1 = susceptible, 5 =tolerant)] Overall Fusarium Average 5  1.5 3 4   3.5 1   1 Ratings [1 to5 Range 5  1-3 1-4 4-5 3-5 1   1 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant)]Septoria Ratings 7  1   2 8  6  2   1 [1 to 9 (1 = tolerant, 9 =Susceptible)] Defects: % Brown Stem 0% 0% 0% 20% 0% 0% 0% % Node Crack0% 0% 0% 40% 0% 0% 0% % Pith 50%  50%  90%  100%  100%  50%  10% 

As shown in Tables 4A and 4B, under high fusarium levels celery cultivarTBG 29 was the most tolerant of the varieties for disease expression inthe roots and was very similar to ADS-22 in the overall fusarium rating,with TBG 34 demonstrating the third best tolerance (higher level of rootinfection). Challenger was the only other variety with relative higherfusarium tolerance levels, but was still not comparable to TBG 29.Celery cultivar TBG 29 was considerably better than all of the othervarieties for whole and trimmed plant weight. TBG 29 was most similar toConquistador, Mission and ADS-22 for number of outer petioles, but hadless than Command. Celery cultivar TBG 29 had slightly shorter outerpetioles than TBG 33, Command and TBG 34, but longer than the remainingvarieties. TBG 29 had slightly thicker outer petioles than Challengerand considerably thicker outer petioles than the other varieties. Thepetiole and leaf color for TBG 29 were very similar to ADS-1, ADS-22,Conquistador, Sonora, Mission and Tall Utah 52-75. While TBG 29 hasexcellent tolerance to fusarium, it has little tolerance to septoria.Celery cultivar TBG 29 had the third highest expression of the diseasebehind Challenger and ADS-22, which are also two of the other mosttolerant of the varieties for fusarium. Since this trial was evaluatedon the older side of maturity, most of the varieties had substantialpith development. Celery cultivar TBG 29 was expressing pith in 50% ofthe plants and was not as good compared to ADS-1 and ADS-20, which hadno pith, and Tall Utah 52-75 and TBG 34, which 10% and 30% pithrespectively. TBG 29 was similar to Sonora and Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’Strain and significantly improved compared to the remaining varieties.

Table 5 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onMar. 16, 2013 and evaluated Jun. 28, 2013 (104 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34,ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challengerand Command. The trial was grown in a production block that wasdeveloped with especially high levels of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apiirace 2 levels in order to evaluate and develop varieties for increasedtolerance to the disease. The plant population (58,080 plants to theacre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. An ‘*’ denotes data that was not collecteddue to impact from fusarium. Table 5, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-12 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger and Command,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 5 TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 TBG 33 ADS-20 Plant Height (cm)Average 80.1 66.5 65.9 86.2 78.6 53.1 Range (77-85) (62-68) (61-70)(81-94) (72-85) (49-59) Trimmed Plant Average  1.36  0.77  0.74  1.23 1.05  0.57 Weight (kg) Range (1.06-1.59) (0.54-1)   (0.48-1.01)(0.96-1.64) (0.82-1.34) (0.26-0.88) Number of Outer Average 14.7 11.810.7 14.8 12.9 10.2 Petioles Range (11-18) (10-14)  (9-12) (12-16)(11-15)  (5-12) Number of Inner Average  6.7  4.1  5.7  7.1  4.9  5.3Petioles Range (5-8) (3-6) (5-7) (7-8) (3-7) (3-7) Length of OuterAverage 30.1 26.2 25.1 29.1 30.2 20.6 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range  (27-34.7) (23.7-28.7) (23.0-27.3) (25.7-31.7) (26.7-34.0) (17.3-22.0)Width of Outer Average  34.10  26.97  26.50  35.47  29.57 * Petioles @midrib (mm) Range   (31-37.7) (21-32) (20.7-31.0) (31.7-41.0)(26.0-33.0) Thickness of Outer Average  11.40  9.17  9.00  10.00 10.57 * Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (10.3-12.3)  (7.7-10.3) (7.7-10.3)  (9-11) (9.3-13)  Petiole Color 5GY 5/6- 5GY 6/6 5 GY6/6-5GY 6/6- 5GY 6/6- 5GY 5/6 (Munsell Color) 5 GY 6/6 5 GY5/6 5GY 7/6 5GY5/6 Leaf Color 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 (MunsellColor) Petiole Smoothness Smooth Slight Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth Smooth/Rib/Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup CupSlight Slight Cup Cup Cup Cup/Cup % Marketable 100%  0% 100%  100% 100%  0% Overall Fusarium Average 5  3  2  5  4  1  Ratings(1 =susceptible, Range 5  3  1-3 5  3-5 1  5 = tolerant) Root FusariumAverage 5  2  3  5  3   1.5 Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 4-5 2-3 2-34-5 3-4 1-2 5 = tolerant) Defects: % Sclerotinia 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% %Butt Crack 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100%  % Pith 0% 100%  0% 0% 0% 100%  % Suckers0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Conquis- tador Sonora Mission Challenger Command PlantHeight (cm) Average 56.6 53.8 58.9 72.8 64.1 Range (50-62) (51-56)(55-64) (64-77) (52-71) Trimmed Plant Average  0.63  0.64  0.79  1.00 0.85 Weight (kg) Range (0.44-0.92)  (0.5-0.77) (0.54-1.24) (0.37-1.42)(0.26-1.21) Number of Outer Average 12.2 13.6 14.1 11.3 11.4 PetiolesRange  (8-17) (13-15) (12-16)  (8-14)  (6-14) Number of Inner Average 4.7  4.9  4.5  5.8  6.8 Petioles Range (3-7) (3-7) (4-5) (2-8) (5-9)Length of Outer Average 22.3 21.5 24.2 30.4 23.9 Petioles @ joint (cm)Range (19.7-24.7) (20.7-24.3) (22.0-27.3) (26.0-36.0) (21.0-26.7) Widthof Outer Average * * *  27.93  24.90 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range(17.3-32.7) (18.3-30.3) Thickness of Outer Average * * *  10.67  9.57Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range  (8.3-12.7)  (5.7-12.0) Petiole Color 5GY5/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 5/6 (Munsell Color) Leaf Color 5GY 3/45GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 (Munsell Color) Petiole SmoothnessSlight Slight Rib Slight Smooth/ Slight Rib/Rib Rib/Rib Slight RibRib/Rib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup % Marketable 0% 0% 0% 60% 40% Overall Fusarium Average 1  1  2  2   3.5 Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range1-2 1-2 1-3 1-3 3-4 5 = tolerant) Root Fusarium Average 1  1  2  2  3 Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-3 3-4 5 = tolerant)Defects: % Sclerotinia 0% 0% 70%   0% 0% % Butt Crack 0% 0% 0% 50% 0% %Pith 100%  100%  100%  80% 100%  % Suckers 0% 12%  0%  0% 0%

As shown in Table 5, celery cultivar TBG 29 was significantly improvedcompared to all of the other varieties shown and was most similar toADS-22 for tolerance to fusarium. ADS-22 had overall greater plantheight, but TBG 29 had the best trimmed plant weight. Celery cultivarTBG 29 was similar to ADS-22 for number of outer and inner petioles andpossessed slightly narrower petiole width. TBG 29 was also slightlylonger to the joint and had slightly thicker petioles than ADS-22, whichaccounted for the improved trimmed plant weight. TBG 29 also hadsmoother and darker petioles, as well as darker green foliage comparedto ADS-22. In comparison to the other varieties, TBG 33 was close to TBG29 for plant height, Mission for number of outer petioles, Command fornumber of inner petioles and Challenger for length of outer petioles.However, none of the other varieties tested were comparable to TBG 29for trimmed weight.

Tables 6 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onAug. 13, 2014 and evaluated Dec. 11, 2014 (120 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34,ADS-1, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Mission, Challenger, Command, TallUtah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. The trial was grown in aproduction block that was developed with especially high levels ofFusarium oxysporum f sp. apii race 2 levels in order to evaluate anddevelop varieties for increased tolerance to the disease. The plantpopulation (58,080 plants to the acre) was higher than the commercialnorm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to the acre. Table 6,column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-12 show the results forTBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Mission,Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 6 Conquis- TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 TBG 33 ADS-20 tador Plant Height(cm) Average 69.4 74.3 67.7 72.0  64.0 58.1 Range (61-73) (71-77)(50-74) (61-78) (60-67) (42-67) Whole Plant Average  0.92  0.82  0.78 0.72   0.62  0.51 Weight (kg) Range (0.69-1.09) (0.40-1.17) (0.08-1.34)(0.13-1.52) (0.39-1.08) (0.19-1.06) Trimmed Plant Average  0.79  0.67 0.63  0.57   0.52  0.41 Weight (kg) Range (0.59-0.88) (0.32-0.95)(0.08-1.08) (0.11-1.18) (0.34-0.87) (0.19-0.86) Number of Outer Average14.4 10.8 11.3 11.0   9.1  9.4 Petioles (>40 cm) Range (11-16)  (6-14) (4-16)  (6-16)  (7-12)  (3-17) Number of Inner Average  5.8  3.3  5.6 3.5   2.9  3.9 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (4-7) (2-4) (3-8) (2-5) (2-4)(2-7) Length of Outer Average 21.6 28.4 25.8 26.6  26.6 22.0 Petioles @joint (cm) Range (19.0-24.0) (26.3-30.3) (21.3-28.7) (24.7-29.0)(24.7-28.0) (16.3-25.7) Width of Outer Average 22.5 21.4 18.5 18.7  20.616.2 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (21.3-23.0) (17.3-24.7)  (8.7-22.3)(10.7-25.0) (17.0-24.0) (12.3-19.0) Thickness of Outer Average  9.7  9.6 8.7  8.3   9.7  8.0 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range  (8.0-11.3) (8.7-10.7)  (6.0-10.3)  (5.3-10.7)  (8.0-10.7) (6.7-9.0) Petiole Color5GY 5/6- 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 (Munsell Color) 5GY 6/6Leaf Color 5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 (MunsellColor) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth SlightSlight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Rib/Rib Petiole Cup SlightCup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Root Fusarium Average 5   3.5 2   3.5 3 2 Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 4-5 3-4 1-3 3-4 3 1-3 5 = tolerant)Overall Fusarium Average  4.5  3.5  2.5 4  3  1.5 Ratings(1 =susceptible, Range 4-5 2-4 1-4 2-5 3 1-3 5 = tolerant) % Marketable100%  70%  70%  70%  60%  40% Defects: % Brown Stem 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 10% %Pith 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 60% Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah Mission ChallengerCommand Strain 52-75 Plant Height (cm) Average 67.1 64.0 65.5 44.5 58.8  Range (61-74) (23-76) (61-69) (0-61) (55-61) Whole Plant Average 0.76  0.42  0.45  0.22  0.47 Weight (kg) Range (0.41-1.16) (0.17-0.77)(0.23-0.66) (0.0-0.68) (0.28-0.83) Trimmed Plant Average  0.61  0.36 0.39  0.23  0.40 Weight (kg) Range (0.34-0.93) (0.13-0.69) (0.21-0.53)(0.04-0.61)  (0.24-0.69) Number of Outer Average 11.0  7.3 10.1 5.9 8.3Petioles (>40 cm) Range  (9-16)  (6-11)  (6-13) (3-10)  (7-10) Number ofInner Average  4.1  2.7  2.7 4.7 3.9 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (3-5) (2-4)(2-3) (3-7)  (3-5) Length of Outer Average 27.2 26.5 25.5 18.6  22.8 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range (22.7-31.7) (25.0-28.0) (21.7-27.7)(0.0-24.0) (19.7-25.3) Width of Outer Average 20.3 17.0 15.0 10.9  17.4 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (16.7-25.7) (11.7-19.7) (12.0-18.0)(0.0-21.7) (14.3-22.0) Thickness of Outer Average  8.4  9.3  8.4 5.9 7.5Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range  (6.3-10.7)  (7.7-10.3) (7.7-9.7)(0.0-10.3) (5.7-9.7) Petiole Color 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY5/6- (Munsell Color) 5GY 6/6 Leaf Color 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 3/45GY 3/4 (Munsell Color) Petiole Smoothness Slight Rib Slight Slight RibSlight Rib Rib/Rib Rib/Rib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup Cup/CupRoot Fusarium Average  2.5  3.5 2  2   2   Ratings(1 = susceptible,Range 2-3 3-4 2-4 1-3  2-3 5 = tolerant) Overall Fusarium Average 3  3  2.5 1.5 2   Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 2-4 3-4 2-3 1-3  2   5 =tolerant) % Marketable 50%  20% 40% 0% 10%  Defects: % Brown Stem 0% 10%20% 0% 0% % Pith 0% 60% 80% 0% 0%

As shown in Table 6, under conditions of especially high levels offusarium, celery cultivar TBG 29 was most tolerant to fusarium withconsiderably better tolerance ratings compared to all other varieties.The next most tolerant was TBG 33, with an average root rating 30% lowerand an overall rating 11% lower than that of TBG 29. Celery cultivar TBG29 was shorter (plant height) than TBG 34 and TBG 33, but taller thanall of the remaining varieties. However, celery cultivar TBG 29 had thebest yield (whole and trimmed plant weight) compared to all of thevarieties. Surprisingly, TBG 29 had the shortest petiole length to thejoint compared to all varieties except Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain, butTBG 29 had the highest number of outer petioles and inner petioles withonly ADS-1 being fairly similar on inner petiole count. TBG 29 also hadthe widest outer petioles and was similar to TBG 34 and ADS-20 for thethickest petioles. What celery cultivar TBG 29 lost in petiole length,it made up for on petiole count, width and thickness to contribute tothe best yield in weight which also contributed to it having the mostmarketable stalks (100%). Celery cultivar TBG 29 and Tall Utah 52-75 hadthe darkest green petiole color and TBG 29 was also free from brown stemand pith.

Tables 7A and 7B show the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard,Calif. on Mar. 14, 2014 and evaluated Jul. 2, 2014 (110 days) comparingthe characteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission,Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. Thetrial was grown in a production block that was developed with especiallyhigh levels of Fusarium oxysporum race 2 levels in order to evaluate anddevelop varieties for increased tolerance to the disease. Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain is considered the susceptible comparison. The plantpopulation (58,080 plants to the acre) was higher than the commercialnorm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to the acre. Table 7A,column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-8 show the results forTBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20 and Conquistador,respectively. Table 7B, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns2-8 show the results for TBG 29, Sonora, Mission, Challenger, Command,Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75, respectively. Thefusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 meanssusceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 7A Conquis- TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 TBG 33 ADS-20 tador PlantHeight (cm) Average 77.5 67.7 68.3 80.1 73.5 47.9  54.7 Range (73-84)(60-76) (60-74) (74-84) (63-81) (43-55) (48-67) Whole Plant Average 1.58  0.93  1.06  1.26  1.02  0.47  0.72 Weight (kg) Range (1.22-1.86)(0.30-1.21) (0.47-1.57) (1.03-1.54) (0.22-1.77) (0.21-0.95) (0.17-1.63)Trimmed Plant Average  1.37  0.77  0.96  1.08  0.91  0.47  0.69 Weight(kg) Range (1.07-1.62) (0.26-1.03) (0.45-1.41) (0.88-1.3)  (0.21-1.56)(0.21-0.94) (0.17-1.54) Number of Outer Average 14.4 11.1 11.9 15.0 11.98.2 13.2 Petioles (>40 cm) Range (12-16)  (5-16)  (9-13) (13-18)  (9-15) (0-13)  (6-16) Number of Inner Average 14.3  7.9 12.3 13.9  9.2 9.410.9 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (10-17)  (6-10) (10-14) (12-16)  (7-14) (7-17)  (8-16) Length of Outer Average 29.3 23.9 24.2 25.1 27.0 19.5 20.8 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range (26.7-33.0) (19.3-27.7) (22.0-26.7)(22.7-27.0) (25.0-31.3) (16.3-21.0) (17.0-23.7) Width of Outer Average31.0 23.8 24.9 28.5 22.2 18.4  18.3 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range(26.3-34.7) (18.7-27.3) (15.7-32.3) (26.3-31.0) (11.7-29.0) (13.7-25.0)(10.3-29.7) Thickness of Outer Average 10.9  9.3  9.5  9.1  9.8 8.1  7.2Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range  (9.0-12.7)  (8.0-10.3)  (6.7-11.3) (8.0-10.0)  (6.3-12.7) (6.3-9.7)  (5.0-10.0) Petiole Color 5GY 7/6 5GY6/6 5GY 6/8 5GY 6/8 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/4 5GY 7/6 (Munsell Color) Leaf Color7.5GY 4/6 5GY 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 7.5GY 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 5GY 5/6 5GY 4/4 (MunsellColor) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Rib Smooth/ Smooth Slight Rib Smooth/Slight Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib Rib/Rib Petiole Cup Slight CupCup/ Slight Cup Cup/ Cup/ Cup/ Cup Slight Cup Slight Cup Slight CupSlight Cup Root Fusarium Average 5  3   3.5 5  3  1    2.5 Ratings (1 =susceptible, Range 4-5 3  3-4 4-5 3-4 1-2 2-3 5 = tolerant) OverallFusarium Average 5   2.5  3.5 5  3  1.5 2  Ratings (1 = susceptible,Range 5  1-3 3-4 4-5 1-5 1-2 1-3 5 = tolerant) % Marketable 100%  70%40%  100%  50%  10% 30% Defects: % Node Crack 0%  0% 0% 0% 10%   0%  0%% Butt Crack 0% 30% 0% 0% 0% 80% 20% % Top Pith 0% 80% 80%  0% 80%  70%40% % Butt Pith 0% 20% 0% 0% 0% 10% 30% % Suckers 0%  0% 0% 0% 0%  0%10% % Twist 0%  0% 0% 0% 0% 10% 20% % Feather Leaf 0%  0% 30%  0% 10%  0% 20% % Soft Rot 0% 20% 0% 0% 0% 20% 10%

TABLE 7B Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah TBG 29 Sonora Mission ChallengerCommand Strain 52-75 Plant Height (cm) Average 77.5 52.4 55.8 79.9 67.938.8 47.3 Range (73-84) (48-59) (46-62) (75-84) (63-74) (32-51) (41-54)Whole Plant Average  1.58  0.55  0.80  1.23  0.98  0.45  0.51 Weight(kg) Range (1.22-1.86) (0.31-0.96) (0.35-1.25) (0.44-2.04) (0.68-1.65)(0.13-1.90) (0.28-0.65) Trimmed Plant Average  1.37  0.51  0.76  1.08 0.90  0.28  0.51 Weight (kg) Range (1.07-1.62) (0.29-0.86) (0.34-1.16)(0.37-1.81) (0.62-1.52) (0.13-0.9)  (0.28-0.64) Number of Outer Average14.4 13.3 16.8 11.8 12.8  2.9  8.5 Petioles (>40 cm) Range (12-16)(12-15) (14-19)  (7-15)  (9-17)  (0-17)  (0-15) Number of Inner Average14.3  9.1  9.9  9.5 10.9 19.1 13.6 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (10-17) (7-11)  (8-12)  (6-15)  (9-14)  (9-23)  (8-25) Length of Outer Average29.3 19.4 23.2 29.8 26.1 17.6 18.7 Petioles @ joint (cm) Range(26.7-33.0) (17.0-21.7) (18.7-26.7) (26.3-34.3) (24.0-29.7) (13.7-23.7)(17.0-20.0) Width of Outer Average 31.0 18.4 20.6 22.9 21.1 12.2 17.9Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (26.3-34.7) (14.0-26.0) (16.7-26.0)(15.3-29.7) (15.3-28.0)  (8.0-19.0) (13.3-21.3) Thickness of OuterAverage 10.9  6.9  6.9 11.1  8.9  5.3  7.1 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (9.0-12.7) (5.7-8.3) (5.7-8.3)  (8.3-13.3)  (6.7-11.3) (3.7-8.3)(6.0-9.0) Petiole Color 5GY 7/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 7/8 5GY 6/8 5GY 7/4 5GY 5/85GY 7/8 (Munsell Color) Leaf Color 7.5GY 4/6 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/6 7.5GY 3/45GY 4/6 7.5GY 4/6 5GY 4/8 (Munsell Color) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/Slight Slight Smooth/ Smooth/ Rib Smooth/Rib Slight Rib Rib/Rib Rib/RibSlight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup/ Cup CupCup/ Slight Cup Slight Cup Root Fusarium Average 5  3  3  3  3  1  2 Ratings (1 = susceptible, Range 4-5 1-3 1-3 1-3 3-4 1-2 1-2 5 =tolerant) Overall Fusarium Average 5  2  3   2.5  3.5  1.5  1.5 Ratings(1 = susceptible, Range 5  1-2 1-3 1-4 3-4 1-2 1-2 5 = tolerant) %Marketable 100%  0% 30% 70%  40% 0% 0% Defects: % Node Crack 0% 0%  0%0%  0% 0% 0% % Butt Crack 0% 0% 60% 30%  40% 40%  60%  % Top Pith 0%70%  30% 0% 80% 70%  60%  % Butt Pith 0% 0%  0% 0% 10% 0% 20%  % Suckers0% 0%  0% 70%  10% 0% 0% % Twist 0% 0% 20% 0%  0% 0% 20%  % Feather Leaf0% 40%  60% 0% 10% 20%  0% % Soft Rot 0% 10%  30% 30%  20% 10%  0%

As shown in Tables 7A and 7B, under the especially high levels offusarium in this trial, celery cultivar TBG 29 was the most tolerant tofusarium and had similar average fusarium tolerance, as expressed in theroot and overall, to ADS-22 and was 30% better compared to the next besttolerance in ADS-1 for both ratings and Command for overall rating.Celery cultivar TBG 29 was the strongest overall performer and had thebest performance for plant height, whole and trimmed plant weight, outerpetiole length, width and thickness and number of outer and innerpetioles with the exception of Challenger and ADS-22 which were taller(plant height), ADS-22 and Mission which had a greater number of outerpetioles, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain which had more inner petioles, andChallenger which had similar outer petiole length and petiole thickness.The two most fusarium tolerant varieties, TBG 29 and ADS-22, were alsothe only two varieties with 100% of the plants being marketable. Thenext best marketable percentages was 70% for TBG 34 and Challenger.Celery cultivar TBG 29 and ADS-22 were also the only varieties free fromdefects. TBG 29 and Conquistador had moderate pale green petioles withMission and Tall Utah 52-75 being paler.

Tables 8A and 8B show the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard,Calif. on Mar. 4, 2015 and evaluated Jul. 7, 2015 (125 days) comparingthe characteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission,Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. The trial wasgrown in a production block that was developed with especially highlevels of Fusarium oxysporum race 2 levels in order to evaluate anddevelop varieties for increased tolerance to the disease. Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain is considered the susceptible comparison. The plantpopulation (58,080 plants to the acre) was higher than the commercialnorm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to the acre. Table 8A,column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-8 show the results forTBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20 and Conquistador,respectively. Table 8B, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns2-7 show the results for TBG 29, Sonora, Mission, Command, Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75, respectively. The fusarium ratingsare shown on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means susceptible and 5 meanstolerant.

TABLE 8A TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 TBG 33 ADS-20 Conquistador PlantHeight (cm) Average 74.9 72.9 62.5 80.7 67.2 60.4 57.6 Range (69-80)(65-79) (58-68) (73-86) (51-73) (56-64) (48-65) Whole Plant Weight (kg)Average 1.30 0.84 0.70 1.20 0.90 0.60 0.60 Range (0.99-1.75) (0.26-1.31)(0.37-1.40) (0.85-1.62) (0.22-1.17) (0.43-1.08) (0.28-0.86) TrimmedPlant Weight (kg) Average 1.06 0.66 0.60 0.95 0.72 0.54 0.54 Range(0.83-1.38) (0.21-1.04) (0.32-1.11) (0.67-1.31) (0.20-0.98) (0.37-0.91)(0.26-0.72) Number of Outer Petioles Average 14.3 10.0 11.3 16.9 13.710.9 15.2 (>40 cm) Range (11-18)  (7-13)  (9-14) (14-20) (10-17)  (8-14)(11-18) Number of Inner Petioles Average 10.4 6.5 8.4 8.6 7.3 7.9 7.5(<40 cm) Range  (7-15) (3-9)  (5-11)  (7-13)  (6-10)  (5-14) (6-9)Length of Outer Petioles @ joint Average 29.4 31.1 24.3 29.1 29.6 26.225.1 (cm) Range (27.7-33.0) (27.3-33.0) (19.7-28.3) (23.7-33.3)(22.7-33.3) (24.0-28.0) (21.7-28.0) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average30.7 21.8 20.4 25.8 22.5 21.7 16.6 midrib (mm) Range (25.7-32.7)(12.7-29.7) (15.0-27.3) (19.0-31.3) (14.0-27.3) (18.0-29.3)  (9.7-23.0)Thickness of Outer Petioles @ Average 10.5 8.5 8.6 8.5 8.9 8.7 6.4midrib (mm) Range  (9.3-11.3)  (6-10)  (6.7-10.3) (7.0-9.7)  (5.3-10.7)(7.7-9.7) (4.0-8.3) Petiole Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 5GY6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 5/6 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 7.5GY 4/47.5GY 3/4 7.5GY 3/4 7.5GY 3/4 7.5GY 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 PetioleSmoothness Slight Rib Rib Slight Rib/ Slight Rib Rib Slight Rib SlightRib/ Rib Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup Slight Cup/ Slight Cup Slight CupSlight Cup/ Slight Cup Cup/Cup Cup Cup Root Fusarium Ratings Average 4.53.5 2.5 5 3 2 2 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant) Range 4-5 3-4 2-3 5 2-42-3 1-3 Overall Fusarium Ratings Average 5 3.5 2.5 5 3 2 1.5 (1 =susceptible, 5 = tolerant) Range 5 3-4 2-4 5 2-3 2 1-3 Defects: % Lygus90% 100%  50% 90% 100%  80% 90% % Blackheart 60% 40% 20% 50% 20% 60% 10%% Butt Crack  0% 20% 10% 30% 10% 60% 40% % Top Pith 60% 60% 10% 60% 40%30% 20% % Butt Pith 100%  100%  100%  100%  90% 90% 100%  % Suckers  0% 0%  0% 10% 30% 10% 30% % Twist 60% 100%  40% 90% 50% 80% 90%

TABLE 8B Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah TBG 29 Sonora Mission CommandStrain 52-75 Plant Height (cm) Average 74.9 56.6 62.8 71.6 44.7 51.2Range (69-80) (52-63) (54-70) (64-82) (36-54) (42-57) Whole Plant Weight(kg) Average 1.30 0.70 0.90 1.00 0.41 0.40 Range (0.99-1.75) (0.39-1.18)(0.67-1.22) (0.58-1.21) (0.19-0.81) (0.14-0.81) Trimmed Plant Weight(kg) Average 1.06 0.54 0.77 0.77 0.39 0.39 Range (0.83-1.38) (0.08-0.99)(0.58-0.99) (0.45-1.01) (0.19-0.73) (0.12-0.72) Number of Outer PetiolesAverage 14.3 14.2 18.4 13.7 9.7 10.0 (>40 cm) Range (11-18) (12-18)(14-22) (11-16)  (2-17)  (5-14) Number of Inner Petioles Average 10.47.7 8.8 9.2 13.4 7.7 (<40 cm) Range  (7-15)  (6-12)  (8-10)  (7-13) (6-22)  (5-14) Length of Outer Petioles @ joint Average 29.4 24.5 29.429.6 20.3 21.5 (cm) Range (27.7-33.0) (21.7-27.3) (22.3-32.7)(26.7-34.0) (16.3-25.7) (18.3-26.0) Width of Outer Petioles @ midribAverage 30.7 18.3 20.8 22.2 13.2 16.0 (mm) Range (25.7-32.7) (13.7-24.3)(18.0-26.0) (18.7-27.0)  (8.7-19.3) (11.0-20.7) Thickness of OuterPetioles @ Average 10.5 7.7 7.2 8.7 6.2 6.9 midrib (mm) Range (9.3-11.3) (6.0-9.0) (6.3-8.7)  (6.3-10.7) (4.3-7.3) (5.0-9.7) PetioleColor (Munsell Color) 5GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 7.5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 7.5GY 3/4 7.5GY 3/4 7.5GY4/4 7.5GY 4/4 Petiole Smoothness Slight Rib Slight Slight Slight Rib RibRib/Rib Rib/Rib Rib/Rib Petiole Cup Slight Slight Cup Slight Cup Cup CupCup Cup/Cup Root Fusarium Ratings Average 4.5 1.5 3 2.5 1 1 (1 =susceptible, 5 = tolerant) Range 4-5 1-2 3-4 2-3 1-2 1-2 OverallFusarium Ratings Average 5 1.5 2 2.5 1 1 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant)Range 5 1-2 2-3 2-4 1-2 1-2 Defects: % Lygus 90% 90% 100%  100%  90% 60%% Blackheart 60% 30% 50% 40% 40% 20% % Butt Crack  0% 30% 20% 20% 50%40% % Top Pith 60% 10% 30% 70% 70% 10% % Butt Pith 100%  90% 90% 100% 70% 90% % Suckers  0%  0% 10% 10% 30% 20% % Twist 60% 90% 100%  90%100%  100% 

As shown in Tables 8A and 8B, under high fusarium conditions, celerycultivar TBG 29 had slight symptoms for fusarium and was slightly worsethan ADS-22, but the overall rating for TBG 29 and ADS-22 were the same.Both varieties had significantly lower observable fusarium symptomscompared to the next most tolerant variety, TBG 34. TBG 29 was shorterthan ADS-22 in plant height but slightly taller than TBG 34 and Command.All remaining varieties were considerably shorter. Celery cultivar TBG29 had higher yield compared to ADS-22 based on whole (8%) and trimmedplant weight (10%) and both were significantly improved compared toCommand, the next best yielding variety. TBG 29 was similar to Sonorafor outer petiole count and lower than ADS-22, Conquistador and Missionand had a higher inner petiole count only exceeded by Tall Utah 52-70‘R’ Strain. The outer petiole length of TBG 29 was slightly lower thanTBG 34 and similar to ADS-22, TBG 33, Mission and Command, but the widthand thickness of its outer petioles was considerably greater than allother varieties. Celery cultivar TBG 29 had a paler green petiole colorsimilar to TBG 33, ADS-20, Mission and Command. All other varieties weredarker green. TBG 29 was also most similar to ADS-20 for petiole rib andcup. This trial was also significantly impacted by lygus plant bugs,which cause stinging in the hearts and subsequently blackheart and pith.TBG 29 had very high lygus infection and significant secondary blackheart and pith associated with the injuries. While most of the varietieshad similar infection rates the secondary impacts varied. Celerycultivar TBG 29 was free from cracking of the butt and suckers, andwhile it had significant levels of twist it was considerably better thanall of the varieties except ADS-1 and TBG 33.

Table 9 shows the result of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onMar. 15, 2017 and evaluated Jul. 4, 2017 (111 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34,ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challengerand Command. The trial was grown in a production block that wasdeveloped with especially high levels of Fusarium oxysporum race 2levels in order to evaluate and develop varieties for increasedtolerance to the disease. The plant population (58,080 plants to theacre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. An ‘*’ represents data not collected due tosevere impact from fusarium. Table 9, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-12 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, TBG33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger and Command,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 9 TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 TBG 33 ADS-20 Plant Height (cm)Average 75.7 69.9 58.1 81.0 65.4 53.5 Range (74-78) (68-73) (50-62)(79-86) (45-72) (52-58) Whole Plant Weight (kg) Average 1.30 0.91 0.641.03 0.91 0.64 Range (1.16-1.47) (0.71-1.01) (0.4-0.9) (0.82-1.2) (0.54-1.39) (0.57-0.7)  Trimmed Plant Weight (kg) Average 1.04 0.70 0.550.78 0.77 0.57 Range (0.94-1.12) (0.56-0.81) (0.37-0.74) (0.63-0.91)(0.41-1.12) (0.51-0.64) Number of Outer Petioles Average 15.0 12.8 13.516.4 12.4 11.7 (>40 cm) Range (13-18) (11-14) (11-17) (15-18)  (9-14)(10-15) Number of Inner Petioles Average 6.2 3.9 5.4 5.0 4.3 3.8 (<40cm) Range (5-9) (3-5) (3-7) (4-6) (3-5) (3-5) Length of Outer Petioles @Average 27.3 29.0 21.4 28.8 24.1 20.8 joint (cm) Range (26.0-29.3)(27.7-30.7) (17.7-23.7) (25.0-32.0) (19.7-25.3) (18.3-22.0) Width ofOuter Petioles @ Average 28.7 24.9 19.6 23.8 24.0 21.8 midrib (mm) Range(25.7-31.3) (21.3-27.7) (17.3-22.3) (20.7-26.0) (17.7-27.0) (19.3-23.3)Thickness of Outer Petioles Average 11.0 9.6 8.8 8.3 9.7 9.8 midrib (mm)Range (10.3-12.0)  (7.7-10.7)  (7.7-10.0) (6.3-9.3)  (7.0-10.7) (8.3-11.0) Petiole Smoothness Slight Rib Rib Rib Slight Slight SmoothRib/Rib Rib Petiole Cup Slight Slight Slight Slight Cup Slight Cup/CupCup Cup Cup Cup/Cup Overall Fusarium Ratings Average 5 4.5 2 4.5 3 2.5(1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant) Range 4.5-5   3-5 1-3 4-5 1-4 2-3 RootFusarium Ratings Average 4.5 3.5 3 4 2 2 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant)Range 4-5   3-3.5   2-3.5   4-4.5 1-3   1-2.5 % Marketable 100%  100% 20%  100%  90%  0% Defects: % Butt Pith 0% 20%  30%  0% 10%  100%  %Twist 0% 20%  0% 0% 20%  0% % Brown Stem 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Butt Crack0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Top Pith 0% 0% 30%  0% 10%  100%  ConquistadorSonora Mission Challenger Command Plant Height (cm) Average 49.9 50.748.9 69.80 67.9 Range (42-58) (47-54) (45-54) (62-79) (61-75) WholePlant Weight (kg) Average * * * 0.79 0.98 Range (0.51-1.22) (0.72-1.34)Trimmed Plant Weight (kg) Average * * * 0.65 0.80 Range (0.45-0.94)(0.59-1.06) Number of Outer Petioles Average * * * 12.3 18.1 (>40 cm)Range (11-15) (15-22) Number of Inner Petioles Average * * * 4.9 5.2(<40 cm) Range (4-8) (4-6) Length of Outer Petioles @ Average 15.8 18.517.1 25.6 26.2 joint (cm) Range (13.7-18.0) (16.7-21.0) (13.0-20.0)(22.0-31.0) (22.3-31.3) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average * * * 23.321.4 midrib (mm) Range (17.3-28.7) (17.7-24.7) Thickness of OuterPetioles Average * * * 9.8 8.8 midrib (mm) Range  (7.3-12.0)  (7.3-10.0)Petiole Smoothness * * * Rib Slight Rib/ Rib Petiole Cup * * * SlightCup/ Slight Cup/ Cup Cup Overall Fusarium Ratings Average 1.5 1.5 1.53.5 2.5 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant) Range 1-2 1-2 1.5-2   3-4 2-3Root Fusarium Ratings Average 1.5 1.5 1.5 3 2.5 (1 = susceptible, 5 =tolerant) Range 1-2 1-2 1-2 3-4 2-3 % Marketable 0% 0% 0% 10% 50%Defects: % Butt Pith * * * 100%  70% % Twist * * * 90% 70% % BrownStem * * *  0% 30% % Butt Crack * * * 30% 10% % Top Pith * * * 100%  70%

As shown in Table 9, under conditions with high fusarium inoculumlevels, celery cultivar TBG 29 was the most tolerant of the varieties asdemonstrated by the fusarium ratings, overall and root. ADS-22 and TBG34 were the second and third most tolerant. TBG 29, ADS-22 and TBG 34were the only cultivars with 100% marketable stalks. Celery cultivar TBG29 also had the highest yield as expressed by plant weight. TBG 29 wasthe tallest (plant height) next to ADS-22 and had the greatest number ofouter petioles except when compared to ADS-22 and Command. TBG 29 hadthe widest and thickest petioles. Celery cultivar TBG 29 and ADS-22 werealso the only two cultivars free from defects (pith, twist, brown stemand butt crack).

Tables 10-17 show the results of trials grown in normal celeryproduction fields in Oxnard, Calif. These fields had none to moderateinoculum levels for Fusarium oxysporum race 2 as evidenced by infectionobserved in some of the trial entries. In these fields, celery cultivarTBG 29 did not show any fusarium infection (Tables 10, 12 and 14).

Under conditions of light to moderate fusarium impact (Tables 10, 12 and14), celery cultivar TBG 29 produced either the tallest plants (Table10), as measured by plant height, to tall and similar to ADS-1, TBG 34and Challenger (Table 12) or tall and similar to TBG 33 and TBG 34(Table 14). However, under conditions with no fusarium impact othervarieties produced taller plants.

While under high fusarium pressure, celery cultivar TBG 29 out yielded(whole and trimmed plant weight) all other cultivars (Tables 2-9).However, under less or no fusarium pressure (Tables 10-17), TBG 29frequently out yielded all cultivars (Tables 10-12, 16 and 17) butoccasionally other cultivars were capable of producing similar highestyields.

Celery cultivar TBG 29 had the highest outer petiole count (>40 cm)(Tables 11, 12, 13, 17) or had the highest outer petiole count and wassimilar to ADS-22 and Conquistador (Table 10).

Celery cultivar TBG 29 is typically characterized by a broad petiole,and whether grown in conditions with high fusarium (Tables 2-4, 6-9) orrelatively free of fusarium (Tables 10, 12, 13, 17) it frequently hadthe widest petioles of the cultivars grown in the same trials. In only afew occasions it was similar to another cultivar for the widestpetioles, ADS-22 (Tables 5 and 15), ADS-1 (Table 11) and ADS-20 (Table16), or was narrower than cultivars TBG 33 (Table 14), TBG 34 (Tables11, 14 and 16) and ADS-20 (Tables 14).

Celery cultivar TBG 29 was also routinely among the cultivars with thethickest petioles and was thicker than or similar to ADS-22 (Table 10),ADS-1 (Tables 11, 13, 15 and 17), TBG 34 (Tables 12 and 13), Command(Table 12) and TBG 33 (Table 15). In one trial it was the solo bestperformer (Table 14) and one other it was out performed by Challenger(Table 16).

Table 10 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onAug. 9, 2011 and evaluated Nov. 22, 2011 (105 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties ADS-1,ADS-22, Conquistador, Sonora, Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. The plant population (58,080 plants to theacre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. While the trial was not grown in aparticularly heavily Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii race 2 infestedfield, it did have significant impact on more susceptible lines. TallUtah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain was considered the susceptible comparison variety.Table 10, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-10 show theresults for TBG 29, ADS-1, ADS-22, Conquistador, Sonora, Challenger,Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75, respectively.The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 meanssusceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 10 TBG 29 ADS-1 ADS-22 Conquistador Sonora Plant Height (cm)Average 85.2 82.5 83.5 74.0 69.4 Range (81-89) (76-88) (80-87) (70-81)(66-75) Whole Plant Weight (kg) Average 1.54 1.28 1.23 1.01 1.02 Range (1.29-1.865) (1.01-1.63) (1.015-1.5)  (0.58-1.26) (0.745-1.39)  TrimmedPlant Weight (kg) Average 1.18 1.00 0.94 0.80 0.82 Range (1.005-1.365)(0.81-1.25) (0.785-1.115) (0.495-0.995) (0.615-1.085) Number of OuterPetioles Average 12.8 12.0 12.9 12.9 12.3 (>40 cm) Range (12-14) (10-15)(12-14) (11-15) (11-13) Number of Inner Petioles Average 5.1 7.2 6.1 5.45.6 (<40 cm) Range (3-7) (7-8) (5-8) (3-8) (4-7) Length of OuterPetioles @ Average 29.1 31.6 28.6 31.3 30.2 joint (cm) Range (27.7-30.3)(27.7-34)   (26.7-31.3) (28.3-34.7) (27.3-32.3) Width of Outer Petioles@ Average 28.3 25.4 27.2 21.5 22.3 midrib (mm) Range   (26-31.3)(23.3-28)   (25.3-29.3) (16.3-27)   (20.3-25)   Thickness of OuterPetioles @ Average 11.2 10.0 11.1 8.6 8.6 midrib (mm) Range   (10-12.3)(9.3-11)    (10-12.3) (6.3-10)  (7.7-9.7) Petiole Color (Munsell Color)5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6 6/6 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY4/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/4 3/4 Petiole Smoothness Smooth SmoothSmooth Smooth Smooth Petiole Cup Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup Cup OverallFusarium Ratings Average 5 4.5 5 4 4.5 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant)Range 5 4-5 5 3-5 4-5 Marketable % 100%  100%  100%  90%  100%  Defects:% Pith 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Node Crack 0% 0% 0% 10%  40%  % Brown Stem 0% 0%0% 0% 0% % Pink Rot 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Tall Utah Tall 52-70 ‘R’ Utah 52-Challenger Command Strain 75 Plant Height (cm) Average 78.1 81.5 55.669.2 Range (62-90) (76-88) (50-63) (60-75) Whole Plant Weight (kg)Average 1.20 1.28 0.60 0.81 Range (0.69-1.99)  (0.79-1.905) (0.26-0.91)(0.475-1.075) Trimmed Plant Weight (kg) Average 0.92 0.99 0.54 0.66Range  (0.6-1.46) (0.625-1.425) (0.245-0.765) (0.42-0.83) Number ofOuter Petioles Average 10.3 12.2 11.7 11.8 (>40 cm) Range  (9-12)(10-15)  (6-14)  (9-14) Number of Inner Petioles Average 5.2 5.2 6.3 5.7(<40 cm) Range (4-7) (4-6)  (4-10) (4-7) Length of Outer Petioles @Average 32.6 31.4 21.2 27.2 joint (cm) Range (25-36) (27.7-37)  (18.7-25.3) (23.7-32.3) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average 23.9 23.4 16.820.1 midrib (mm) Range (20.3-28.7) (20.7-25.7) (12.3-21.3) (17-24)Thickness of Outer Petioles @ Average 10.4 9.7 7.7 8.1 midrib (mm) Range(8.3-13)  (7.3-11)  (6.7-8.7) (6.3-9.7) Petiole Color (Munsell Color)5GY 5/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 3/4 5GY4/4 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/6 Petiole Smoothness Smooth Smooth Rib Smooth PetioleCup Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup Overall Fusarium Ratings Average 5 4.5 2 3 (1= susceptible, 5 = tolerant) Range 5 4-5 1-3 2-4 Marketable % 90%  50% 0% 70%  Defects: % Pith 0% 100%  100%  0% % Node Crack 10%  0% 0% 0% %Brown Stem 0% 0% 70%  0% % Pink Rot 0% 0% 40%  0%

As shown in Table 10, under moderate fusarium conditions celery cultivarTBG 29 was generally most similar to ADS-22 when considering toleranceto fusarium, number of outer petioles, length and thickness of outerpetioles, petiole and leaf color and freeness from defects. Celerycultivar TBG 29 was the best performer of all varieties for plantheight, and for whole and trimmed plant weight. TBG 29 was similar toADS-22 and Conquistador for the most outer petioles and Conquistador,Challenger and Command for the lowest number of inner petioles. Celerycultivar TBG 29 had 100% marketability.

Table 11 shows a comparison of characteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29and nine other celery varieties grown under conditions of weak fusariumpressure in Oxnard, Calif. in the spring of 2011. The trial wastransplanted Mar. 2, 2011 and harvested Jul. 1, 2011 at 121 daysmaturity. The plant population (58,080 plants to the acre) was higherthan the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to theacre. There was no notable Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii race 2 impact.Table 11, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-11 show theresults for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora,Challenger, Command and Tall Utah 52-75, respectively.

TABLE 11 TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 ADS-20 Conquistador Plant Height(cm) Average 83.3 80.8 81.1 85.6 70.7 76.8 Range (78-88) (77-85) (78-85)(81-90) (67-76) (71-81) Trimmed Plant Weight Average 1.33 1.05 1.23 1.011.00 1.07 (kg) Range (1.07-1.60) (0.82-1.39) (0.85-1.66) (0.76-1.31)(0.64-1.27) (0.78-1.51) Number of Outer Average 15.4 11.8 13.3 14.6 12.713.7 Petioles (>40 cm) Range (13-17) (10-13) (11-15) (13-18) (11-15)(12-17) Number of Inner Petioles Average 6.2 4.2 7.9 5.5 5.8 7.1 (<40cm) Range (5-8) (4-5)  (6-10) (3-7) (5-7) (6-8) Length of Outer PetiolesAverage 30.6 31.7 29.0 29.0 29.5 33.5 @ joint (cm) Range (29.3-37.0)(28.0-33.3) (28.0-34.7) (28.0-33.3) (28.0-35.0) (28.7-39.0) Width ofOuter Petioles Average 29.7 30.9 29.8 26.0 24.8 24.8 @ midrib (mm) Range(25.7-32.0) (27.3-38.0) (26.3-33.7) (22.3-31.0) (21.0-32.0) (22.3-27.7)Thickness of Outer Average 11.6 10.6 11.3 8.9 9.8 8.9 Petioles @ midrib(mm) Range (10.7-13.7)  (9.3-12.0)  (9.7-13.0)  (8.0-10.3)  (9.0-11.7) (7.7-11.3) Petiole Color (Munsell 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 4/6 5GY6/6 5GY 6/6 Color) Leaf Color (Munsell 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/45GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 Color) Petiole Smoothness Smooth Slight Rib Smooth/Smooth Smooth Smooth Slight Rib Petiole Cup Cup Slight Cup Slight CupSlight Cup/Cup Cup Cup/Cup % Marketable 100%  100%  100%  100%  100% 100%  Defects: % Brown Stem 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Node Crack 0% 0% 0% 0%0% 0% Tall Utah 52- Sonora Challenger Command 75 Plant Height (cm)Average 80.7 86.7 78.7 65.0 Range (75-84) (82-96) (74-84) (60-72)Trimmed Plant Weight Average 1.05 1.30 0.97 0.90 (kg) Range (0.59-1.32)(0.69-1.64) (0.74-1.27) (0.24-1.24) Number of Outer Average 12.7 12.611.8 11.5 Petioles (>40 cm) Range  (9-18) (10-14) (10-14)  (9-15) Numberof Inner Petioles Average 7.5 6.4 6.6 8.1 (<40 cm) Range  (5-10) (4-9)(5-8)  (2-12) Length of Outer Petioles Average 37.4 37.5 33.6 26.1 @joint (cm) Range (34.7-40.0) (35.0-42.3) (27.3-37.0) (23.7-29.0) Widthof Outer Petioles Average 26.9 26.7 24.0 26.5 @ midrib (mm) Range(22.0-31.7) (17.7-32.0) (20-28) (15.0-33.7) Thickness of Outer Average8.8 10.9 9.6 9.1 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (8.0-9.7)  (6.7-15.0) (8.0-11.3)  (4.7-10.3) Petiole Color (Munsell 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/65GY 7/6 Color) Leaf Color (Munsell 5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/6Color) Petiole Smoothness Smooth Smooth Slight Smooth/Slight Rib/Rib RibPetiole Cup Slight Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup/Cup % Marketable 100%  100% 90% 100%  Defects: % Brown Stem 0% 30%  0% 0% % Node Crack 10%   0% 10%0%

As shown in Table 11, under production conditions of weak fusariumpressure celery cultivar TBG 29 was shorter (plant height) compared toADS-22 and Challenger, but similar to Challenger for yield (plantweight), and significantly out yielded ADS-1 which was the third bestperformer. TBG 29 also had the highest petiole count greater than 40 cm.For number of inner petioles, TBG 29 was similar to Challenger. Thepetiole width and thickness of TBG 29 was similar to ADS-1 and onlysurpassed by TBG 34 for petiole width. The petiole color of TBG 29 wasmoderately dark, with only ADS-22 being darker and ADS-1, ADS-20 andConquistador being similar. Celery cultivar TBG 29 was free from brownstem and node crack.

Table 12 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onAug. 11, 2012 and evaluated Nov. 18, 2012 (99 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34,ADS-1, Mission, Challenger, Command, Sonora and Conquistador. The plantpopulation (58,080 plants to the acre) was higher than the commercialnorm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to the acre. The trial wasgrown in a production field with a relatively low incidence of Fusariumoxysporum f sp. apii race 2. Table 12, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-9 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, Mission,Challenger, Command, Sonora and Conquistador, respectively. The fusariumratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means susceptible and5 means tolerant.

TABLE 12 TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 Mission Challenger Command SonoraConquistador Plant Height (cm) Average 81.7 85.2 81.0 76.5 84.6 76.776.9 79.7 Range (80-84) (83-88) (70-88) (73-80) (72-94) (71-83) (73-83)(74-86) Trimmed Plant Weight Average 1.21 0.86 0.98 0.83 0.85 1.02 0.860.87 (kg) Range (0.94-1.41) (0.61-0.98)  (0.6-1.28) (0.67-1.16)(0.48-1.11) (0.77-1.36) (0.75-1.04) (0.71-1.09) Number of Outer PetiolesAverage 14.10 10.30 11.50 11.90 9.70 11.50 12.50 12.10 (>40 cm) Range(12-15)  (9-13)  (9-13) (10-14)  (8-12)  (9-14) (11-14)  (9-15) Numberof Inner Petioles Average 6.6 5.1 5.7 7.1 6.4 6.7 6.7 6.3 (<40 cm) Range(5-8) (5-6) (4-9) (5-9) (4-8) (5-8) (5-9) (5-9) Length of Outer PetiolesAverage 30.2 32.3 28.3 30.1 31.2 27.6 30.4 33.5 @ joint (cm) Range(25.7-32.3) (29.3-35)   (31.7-35.3) (25.7-32.3)   (27-34.3) (25.7-32.7)  (26-35.7) (27.3-37.3) Width of Outer Petioles Average 27.7 25.3 24.621.9 23.9 25.3 22.2 20.5 @ midrib (mm) Range (25.3-31.3) (22.7-28)  (20.7-28.3) (19.7-24.7) (18.7-29.7) (22.3-29.7) (20.3-24)   (18.3-22.3)Thickness of Outer Average 10.7 10.2 9.8 8.2 9.9 10.3 8.0 8.1 Petioles @midrib (mm) Range (9.7-12)    (9.3-11.3) (8.3-11)  (7.3-9)    (8.7-10.7) (8.3-11.3) (5.3-8.7) (7.3-8.7) Petiole Color (Munsell 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/65GY 6/6 5GY 7/4 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 Color) Leaf Color(Munsell 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 4/6 5GY 4/6Color) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Smooth Smooth Smooth Smooth SmoothSmooth Smooth Slight Rib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Slight Cup CupCup/Cup Overall Fusarium Average 5 4.5 4 4 5 4.5 4 4 Ratings (1 =susceptible, Range 5 4-5 3-5 3-5 5 4-5 3-5 3-5 5 = tolerant) %Marketable 100%  40% 70%  0% 80% 30%  0%  0% Defects: % Node 10%  0% 20% 0% 40% 80% 40%  0% Crack % Butt  0%  0% 80% 100%  40% 70% 100%  100% Pith % 70% 20% 20% 100%  10% 90% 40% 40% Feather Leaf

As shown in Table 12, under very light fusarium conditions celerycultivar TBG 29 was most similar to ADS-1 for plant height and shorterthan TBG 34 and Challenger. However, TBG 29 significantly out yieldedall varieties and had considerably more outer petioles. TBG 29 wasfairly similar to Challenger, Command, Sonora and Conquistador for innerpetiole count and had slightly less than Mission. The length of theouter petioles of TBG 29, Mission and Sonora were similar and shorterthan those of TBG 34, Challenger and Conquistador. Celery cultivar TBG29 also had the widest outer petioles and was similar to TBG 34 andCommand for the thickest petioles. The petiole color of TBG 29 wasfairly dark green and similar to TBG 34, ADS-1, Sonora and Conquistador.Under these conditions TBG 29 was slightly ribbier than all of thevarieties. Celery cultivar TBG 29 and Challenger were free from symptomsof fusarium, but only TBG 29 was 100 percent marketable. TBG 29 and TBG34 were the only varieties free from pith, while TBG 29 had 10 percentnode crack and a high incidence of feather leaf (70%).

Table 13 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onMar. 14, 2013 and evaluated Jun. 21, 2013 (99 days) comparing thecharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34,ADS-1, ADS-22, ADS-20, TBG 33, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challengerand Command. The trial was grown in a commercial field where there wasno fusarium impact. The plant population (58,080 plants to the acre) washigher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plantsto the acre. Table 13, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns2-12 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, ADS-20, TBG 33,Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger and Command, respectively.

TABLE 13 TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 ADS-20 TBG 33 Plant Height (cm)Average 75.4 76.8 72.4 79.5 72.8 82.3 Range (71-81) (72-81) (69-76)(73-85) (69-77) (76-86) Whole Plant Weight (kg) Average 1.53 1.32 1.441.13 1.09 1.34 Range (1.32-1.67) (1.13-1.76) (1.28-1.68) (0.95-1.31)(0.82-1.40) (1.15-1.47) Trimmed Plant Weight Average 1.24 1.05 1.18 0.920.87 1.04 (kg) Range (1.08-1.38) (0.91-1.41) (1.01-1.37) (0.79-1.03)(0.66-1.10) (0.90-1.14) Number of Outer Average 14.7 10.3 12.8 12.7 10.114.3 Petioles (>40 cm) Range (13-16)  (9-13) (12-14) (11-14)  (9-13)(13-17) Number of Inner Average 6.9 4.8 7.7 8.8 4.9 5.7 Petioles (<40cm) Range (5-8) (4-6)  (6-10)  (8-10) (3-6) (3-7) Length of OuterPetioles Average 27.3 30.9 27.8 24.4 32.0 31.2 @ joint (cm) Range(24.7-29.0) (28.7-33.3) (24.3-30.7) (21.3-26.7) (28.7-35.3) (27.7-34.0)Width of Outer Petioles Average 32.8 32.0 30.9 29.8 26.4 27.7 @ midrib(mm) Range (30.0-36.0) (28.7-37.7) (27.7-34.0) (27.3-34.0) (23.0-28.7)(24.3-29.7) Thickness of Outer Average 11.1 10.9 10.9 9.0 9.8 10.4Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range (10.0-12.0)  (9.7-12.7)  (9.7-12.0)(8.3-9.7)  (8.7-10.7) (10.0-11.3) Petiole Color (Munsell 5GY 5/6 5GY6/6- 5GY 6/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 5/6 Color) 5GY 5/6 Leaf Color (Munsell5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 Color) PetioleSmoothness Smooth/ Smooth Smooth Smooth/ Smooth Smooth/ Slight RibSlight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup Cup/Cup Defects: % Node Crack 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Brown Stem 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%0% % Twist 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Top Pith 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Butt Pith 0%0% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Feather Leaf 80%  0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Conquistador SonoraMission Challenger Command Plant Height (cm) Average 74.9 74.9 79.1 83.879.4 Range (68-80) (68-79) (74-88) (76-95) (72-83) Whole Plant Weight(kg) Average 1.24 1.02 1.45 1.43 1.50 Range (0.76-1.57) (0.74-1.31)(0.92-1.71) (1.19-1.72) (1.24-1.82) Trimmed Plant Weight Average 0.980.83 1.11 1.13 1.24 (kg) Range (0.60-1.23) (0.60-1.06) (0.66-1.31)(0.93-1.38) (0.98-1.52) Number of Outer Average 12.8 12.6 13.7 12.4 12.3Petioles (>40 cm) Range (10-15) (11-14) (13-15) (11-14) (10-14) Numberof Inner Average 5.8 5.7 6.9 6.1 7.1 Petioles (<40 cm) Range (3-7) (5-7)(5-9) (5-8) (5-8) Length of Outer Petioles Average 31.4 31.4 33.0 36.328.4 @ joint (cm) Range (27.0-34.0) (29.3-33.0) (29.0-38.3) (30.3-42.0)(24.3-33.3) Width of Outer Petioles Average 25.2 24.7 28.0 26.2 27.2 @midrib (mm) Range (20.3-28.7) (21.3-26.7) (21.7-32.3) (24.7-28.7)(24.0-32.7) Thickness of Outer Average 9.3 8.9 9.6 10.6 10.3 Petioles @midrib (mm) Range  (8.7-10.0) (8.0-9.7)  (7.0-11.0)  (9.7-11.7) (9.7-11.3) Petiole Color (Munsell 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 5GY7/6 Color) Leaf Color (Munsell 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4Color) Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Smooth/ Slight Smooth/ Smooth SlightRib Slight Rib Slight Rib Rib Petiole Cup Cup Slight Cup Cup Cup Cup/Cup Defects: % Node Crack 10%  0% 0% 20%  70%  % Brown Stem 0% 0% 0% 0%10%  % Twist 0% 0% 0% 100%  0% % Top Pith 0% 0% 0% 0% 50%  % Butt Pith100%  50%  0% 0% 0% % Feather Leaf 30%  0% 0% 0% 50% 

As shown in Table 13, celery cultivar TBG 29 was most similar to Commandfor highest yield (whole and trimmed plant weight) and was most similarto TBG 33 for the greatest number of outer petioles. TBG 29 was fairlysimilar to Mission and Command for the number of inner petioles, withADS-1 and ADS-22 having more. TBG 29 was fairly similar to ADS-1 forlength of outer petioles, with only ADS-22 being shorter. Celerycultivar TBG 29 had the widest petioles and was very similar to ADS-1and TBG 34 for the thickest petioles. TBG 29 along with ADS-22 and TBG33 had the darkest green petioles. Celery cultivar TBG 29 was free fromdefects except feather leaf.

Table 14 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onAug. 14, 2014 and evaluated Nov. 22, 2014 (100 days) comparing thecharacteristics of TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34, ADS-1, TBG 33,ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. The plant population (58,080 plants to theacre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. The trial was grown in a production fieldwith a moderate incidence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii race 2.Table 14, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-12 show theresults for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, TBG 33, ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora,Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75,respectively. The fusarium ratings are shown on a scale from 1 to 5,where 1 means susceptible and 5 means tolerant.

TABLE 14 TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 TBG 33 ADS-20 Conquistador Plant Height(cm) Average 74.8 76.3 68.1 77.2 62.8 70.3 Range (70-81) (74-80) (63-72)(69-82) (56-68) (65-76) Whole Plant Weight (kg) Average 0.97 0.88 0.730.92 0.61 0.68 Range (0.76-1.09) (0.76-1.12) (0.54-0.91)  (0.6-1.27)(0.34-0.82) (0.60-0.82) Trimmed Plant Weight (kg) Average 0.78 0.71 0.610.75 0.56 0.56 Range (0.62-0.88) (0.61-0.89) (0.44-0.76) (0.51-0.99)(0.30-0.71) (0.49-0.69) Number of Outer Petioles Average 12.2 10.3 12.813.1 9.7 14.3 (>40 cm) Range (11-14)  (9-12) (10-14) (11-15)  (7-13)(13-18) Number of Inner Petioles Average 7.5 4.2 7.7 6.1 4.8 7.0 (<40cm) Range  (6-10) (3-6)  (5-10) (5-8) (3-6)  (5-10) Length of OuterPetioles @ Average 27.8 30.3 27.6 31.4 26.5 31.2 joint (cm) Range(25.3-29.3) (28.0-32.3) (26.0-29.3) (28.3-34.7) (23.7-30.0) (28.3-35.3)Width of Outer Petioles @ Average 20.8 23.9 20.0 22.1 21.8 17.2 midrib(mm) Range (14.7-23.3) (21.7-27.0) (17.0-22.7) (18.7-24.3) (17.7-24.3)(12.7-19.7) Thickness of Outer Petioles Average 10.2 9.4 8.4 9.4 9.6 6.8@ midrib (mm) Range  (9.7-10.7)  (8.3-10.3) (7.3-9.3)  (8.0-10.3) (8.3-10.3) (5.7-8.0) Petiole Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 5GY 6/6 6/6 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/45GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 5GY 3/4 3/4 Petiole Smoothness Smooth Smooth SmoothSmooth Smooth Smooth Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup OverallFusarium Ratings Average 5 5 3 4 3.5 3 (1 = susceptible, 5 = tolerant)Range 5 3-5 2-4 3-5 1-4 3 % Marketable 100%   100%  90%  100%   70% 80%  Defects: % Top Pith 0% 60% 0% 0% 0% 0% % Butt Pith 0% 50% 0% 0% 0%0% % Feather Leaf 0%  0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall UtahSonora Challenger Command Strain 52-75 Plant Height (cm) Average 69.673.2 69.7 54.0 59.7 Range (65-73) (56-80) (63-75) (46-68) (43-69) WholePlant Weight (kg) Average 0.81 0.79 0.94 0.55 0.75 Range (0.63-1.01)(0.28-1.36) (0.69-1.24) (0.21-1.11) (0.18-0.99) Trimmed Plant Weight(kg) Average 0.64 0.63 0.78 0.48 0.64 Range (0.50-0.78) (0.26-1.07)(0.57-1.01) (0.21-1.00) (0.16-0.85) Number of Outer Petioles Average15.2 12.2 14.7 7.6 12.5 (>40 cm) Range (11-18)  (6-15) (12-19)  (0-14) (8-14) Number of Inner Petioles Average 6.6 6.5 6.8 6.3 5.6 (<40 cm)Range (5-8) (5-9) (5-8)  (3-11) (4-7) Length of Outer Petioles @ Average29.8 31.1 29.6 18.2 22.8 joint (cm) Range (25.3-34.0) (19.3-36.7)(25.3-34.0) (11.0-23.0) (20.0-25.0) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average19.1 19.2 19.5 17.8 19.9 midrib (mm) Range (12.3-21.7) (13.0-23.7)(16.7-22.0) (11.3-22.0)  (8.0-23.7) Thickness of Outer Petioles Average8.3 8.5 8.4 8.5 8.3 @ midrib (mm) Range (7.3-9.0)  (6.3-11.3) (6.7-10.3)  (6.3-10.3) (4.3-9.7) Petiole Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 5GY6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/6 5/6 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 5GY 3/45GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 3/4 Petiole Smoothness Smooth Smooth Smooth/Slight Smooth Slight Rib Rib/Rib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup Slight Cup CupOverall Fusarium Ratings Average 2.5 4.5 3.5 1 2 (1 = susceptible, 5 =tolerant) Range 1-4 1-5 3-5 0-2 1-3 % Marketable 80%  60%  50%  0% 20% Defects: % Top Pith 0% 10%  40%  0% 40%  % Butt Pith 0% 0% 20%  0% 0% %Feather Leaf 40%  0% 0% 0% 0%

As shown in Table 14, under conditions with moderate fusarium impactcelery cultivar TBG 29 had the best tolerance with no visible fusariumsymptoms. TBG 29 had the highest yield based on whole plant and trimmedplant weight. TBG 29 was a little shorter in overall plant heightcompared to TBG 34 and TBG 33, and had shorter outer petioles comparedto TBG 34, TBG 33, Conquistador, Sonora, Challenger and Command. TBG 29was similar to ADS-1 for outer petiole length. TBG 29 was similar toADS-1, Challenger and Tall Utah 52-75 for number of outer petioles,which were all less than Conquistador, Sonora and Command. For number ofinner petioles, TBG 29 was higher than most varieties except ADS-1 whichwas similar. Celery cultivar TBG 29 was similar to ADS-1 for petiolewidth, which were narrower than TBG 34, TBG 33 and ADS-20. However, thepetioles of TBG 29 were the thickest of all varieties. All of thevarieties except Sonora had similar petiole color and, except Commandand Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain, similar smoothness and, except Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain, similar petiole cupping. Celery cultivar TBG 29 was100% marketable, as were TBG 34 and TBG 33. The remaining varieties hada percentage of plants that were not marketable.

Tables 15A and 15B show the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard,Calif. on Mar. 10, 2015 and evaluated Jun. 20, 2015 (102 days) comparingthe characteristics of celery cultivar TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG34, ADS-1, ADS-22, ADS-20, TBG 33, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission,Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. The trial wasgrown in a commercial field where there was no fusarium impact. Theplant population (58,080 plants to the acre) was higher than thecommercial norm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to the acre.Table 15A, column 1 shows the characteristic and columns 2-8 show theresults for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, ADS-22, ADS-20, TBG 33 andConquistador, respectively. Table 15B, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-7 show the results for TBG 29, Sonora, Mission, Command,Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75, respectively.

TABLE 15A TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 ADS-22 ADS-20 TBG 33 Conquistador PlantHeight (cm) Average 79.7 78.5 81.7 84.0 71.9 88.0 78.4 Range (78-84)(75-82) (77-86) (78-87) (70-74) (81-93) (75-82) Whole Plant Weight (kg)Average 1.49 1.41 1.46 1.47 1.31 1.71 1.27 Range (1.29-1.80) (1.13-1.69)(1.20-1.68) (1.25-1.82) (1.14-1.50) (1.41-2.51) (1.10-1.59) TrimmedPlant Weight (kg) Average 1.22 1.11 1.20 1.18 1.08 1.31 0.98 Range(1.11-1.50) (0.89-1.31) (1.00-1.38) (1.01-1.42) (0.95-1.23) (1.11-1.80)(0.82-1.23) Number of Outer Petioles Average 14.0 10.9 12.3 14.5 11.413.0 14.8 (>40 cm) Range (12-18)  (8-14) (11-14) (12-17) (10-13) (11-18)(12-17) Number of Inner Petioles Average 7.0 5.0 7.6 7.9 6.4 6.3 7.0(<40 cm) Range (5-9) (4-6) (6-9) (7-9) (6-8) (5-8) (5-9) Length of OuterPetioles @ Average 28.0 30.5 30.6 27.2 31.9 32.9 31.3 joint (cm) Range(25.7-33.7) (29.0-33.0) (28.3-32.3) (24.0-28.7) (29.3-37.7) (30.7-35.7)(28.3-36.7) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average 30.4 29.7 29.6 30.9 28.928.6 27.3 midrib (mm) Range (28.3-33.7) (25.7-34.7) (29.0-30.7)(27.7-34.3) (26.3-33.3) (26.7-31.0) (24.7-31.7) Thickness of OuterPetioles Average 12.0 10.4 11.8 10.1 10.4 12.1 9.3 @ midrib (mm) Range(11.3-13.0)  (4.3-12.3) (10.0-13.0)  (9.0-11.0)  (9.0-11.3) (10.3-14.0) (7.7-10.3) Petiole Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 5/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 to 5GY5/6 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 8/4 5GY 8/4 5GY 8/4 Leaf Color(Munsell Color) 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4Petiole Smoothness Slight Rib Slight Rib/ Smooth Smooth Smooth Smooth/Smooth Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup Slight Cup/ Cup Slight CupCup Cup Slight Cup Cup

TABLE 15B Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah TBG 29 Sonora Mission CommandStrain 52-75 Plant Height (cm) Average 79.7 77.4 79.4 78.5 75.1 76.9Range (78-84) (74-80) (77-83) (73-84) (70-78) (73-82) Whole Plant Weight(kg) Average 1.49 1.52 1.63 1.30 1.14 1.27 Range (1.29-1.80) (1.03-1.78)(1.18-2.05) (1.09-1.49) (0.98-1.37) (1.04-1.44) Trimmed Plant Weight(kg) Average 1.22 1.11 1.27 1.03 0.93 1.03 Range (1.11-1.50) (0.83-1.36)(0.93-1.51) (0.87-1.22) (0.78-1.15) (0.85-1.14) Number of Outer PetiolesAverage 14.0 12.5 14.0 12.5 12.8 13.0 (>40 cm) Range (12-18) (10-14)(12-17) (11-15) (10-15) (10-15) Number of Inner Petioles Average 7.0 7.19.5 6.7 8.2 7.0 (<40 cm) Range (5-9) (5-9)  (8-11) (6-7)  (6-10) (6-8)Length of Outer Petioles @ Average 28.0 31.1 33.7 29.9 29.6 30.3 joint(cm) Range (25.7-33.7) (29.0-34.0) (30.3-35.3) (26.0-32.0) (27.7-33.7)(27.7-31.7) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average 30.4 28.1 28.3 26.4 26.826.3 midrib (mm) Range (28.3-33.7) (21.7-31.3) (26.3-31.0) (25.0-29.0)(24.3-30.0) (24.0-31.3) Thickness of Outer Petioles Average 12.0 9.9 9.910.6 10.4 10.0 @ midrib (mm) Range (11.3-13.0)  (9.0-11.3)  (9.0-11.0)(10.0-11.0)  (9.3-11.0)  (9.0-11.3) Petiole Color (Munsell Color) 5GY5/6 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 8/4 5GY8/4 5GY 8/4 5GY 8/4 5GY 8/4 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/45GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 Petiole Smoothness Slight Rib Smooth/Slight Rib Smooth/Slight Rib Smooth Slight Rib Rib Petiole Cup SlightCup Cup Cup Slight Slight Cup Cup Cup/Cup

As shown in Tables 15A and 15B, under fairly normal conditions with nonotable fusarium impact, celery cultivar TBG 29 had moderately highyield, being similar to ADS-22 and Sonora for whole plant weight andADS-1 for trimmed plant weight. TBG 29 was similar to Mission for thenumber of outer petioles and only surpassed by ADS-22 and Conquistador.It was however shorter than most of the varieties for petiole lengthwith only ADS-22 being shorter. In contrast, celery cultivar TBG 29 wasimproved compared to all varieties for petiole width and thickness,except ADS-22 and TBG 33 which were similar for width and thicknessrespectively. TBG 29, ADS-22 and TBG 33 had the darkest petioles.

Table 16 shows the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard, Calif. onAug. 25, 2016 and evaluated Dec. 15, 2016 (112 days) comparing thecharacteristics of TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34, TBG 33, ADS-20,Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strainand Tall Utah 52-75. The trial was grown in a commercial field wherethere was no fusarium impact. The plant population (58,080 plants to theacre) was higher than the commercial norm of approximately 45,000 to47,000 plants to the acre. Table 16, column 1 shows the characteristicand columns 2-11 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, TBG 33, ADS-20,Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strainand Tall Utah 52-75, respectively.

TABLE 16 TBG 29 TBG 34 TBG 33 ADS-20 Conquistador Plant Height (cm)Average 89.4 84.0 97.3 80.4 82.2 Range (82-96) (80-90)  (89-103) (77-82)(78-88) Whole Plant Weight (kg) Average 1.73 1.49 1.57 1.31 1.48 Range(1.26-2.36) (1.13-1.94) (1.36-1.87) (0.97-1.59) (1.33-1.76) TrimmedPlant Weight Average 1.27 1.14 1.06 1.02 1.11 (kg) Range (0.98-1.7) (0.88-1.43) (0.89-1.21) (0.78-1.19)   (1-1.24) Number of Outer PetiolesAverage 14.7 13.4 14.0 12.7 16.1 (>40 cm) Range (12-18) (12-15) (12-16)(11-15) (15-17) Number of Inner Petioles Average 8.4 7.2 7.0 5.9 8.0(<40 cm) Range  (6-10) (6-9) (5-9) (5-8) (6-9) Length of Outer PetiolesAverage 33.2 36.8 38.7 39.0 37.3 @ joint (cm) Range (29.7-39.7)(32.7-41)   (35.7-41.7) (36.7-42.7) (33.7-41.3) Width of Outer PetiolesAverage 25.6 26.2 23.5 25.6 22.8 @ midrib (mm) Range (23-28)   (24-28.3)(21.7-27.3) (22.7-27.3) (19.7-24.3) Thickness of Outer Average 11.1 10.510.4 10.4 9.1 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range  (9.3-12.3)   (9-12.3) (9.7-11.7)   (9-11.3) (8.3-10)  Petiole Color (Munsell 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/65GY 7/8 2.5GY 6/8 7.5GY 4/4 Color) Leaf Color (Munsell 7.5GY 4/4 7.5GY3/4 5GY 3/4 7.5GY 4/6 5GY 7/6 Color) Petiole Smoothness Slight Rib/Slight Rib Slight Rib/ Smooth Smooth/ Rib Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup CupCup Cup Cup/ Cup Deep Cup Defects: % Node Crack 50% 100% 20% 90% 100%Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah Sonora Mission Challenger Strain 52-75Plant Height (cm) Average 80.9 83.7 91.3 75.8 80.7 Range (76-87) (80-87)(86-96) (67-87) (74-86) Whole Plant Weight (kg) Average 1.39 1.60 1.551.28 1.29 Range (1.16-1.64) (1.18-1.92) (1.28-1.86) (0.97-1.59)(0.94-1.76) Trimmed Plant Weight Average 1.08 1.19 1.17 1.03 0.99 (kg)Range (0.94-1.3)  (0.87-1.43) (0.97-1.4)  (0.76-1.29) (0.73-1.34) Numberof Outer Petioles Average 15.4 17.5 12.2 14.6 13.6 (>40 cm) Range(12-17) (15-19) (11-14) (11-18) (12-16) Number of Inner Petioles Average8.2 9.3 8.5 7.7 7.1 (<40 cm) Range (7-9)  (8-11)  (6-11) (6-9) (5-9)Length of Outer Petioles Average 35.6 39.6 38.8 31.3 35.4 @ joint (cm)Range (32.3-39)   (38.3-42)   (36.3-43.7) (24.7-38.3)   (32-39.3) Widthof Outer Petioles Average 22.8 23.1 24.4 23.0 22.3 @ midrib (mm) Range(20.3-24.7) (20-26) (21.7-26.7) (20.7-25)     (18-25.7) Thickness ofOuter Average 9.3 8.7 12.1 10.5 9.4 Petioles @ midrib (mm) Range(8.3-11)    (8-9.3) (10.7-13)   (9.7-12)   (7.7-11.3) Petiole Color(Munsell 5GY 6/8 2.5GY 6/8 5GY 7/8 2.5GY 6/8 5GY 7/8 Color) Leaf Color(Munsell 7.5GY 4/4 7.5GY 4/4 7.5GY 4/4 7.5GY 4/4 7.5GY 4/4 Color)Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Slight Smooth/ Rib Smooth/ Slight Rib Rib/RibSlight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Defects: % NodeCrack 100% 100% 60% 40% 60%

As shown in Table 16, under trial conditions free from fusarium andbolting pressure, celery cultivar TBG 29 substantially out yielded eachvariety (whole and trimmed weight) and was taller (plant height) thanall varieties tested except for TBG 33 and Challenger. The outer petiolecount for TBG 29 was similar to TBG 33 and Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strainand lower than Conquistador, Sonora and Mission. The number of innerpetioles for TBG 29 was moderate when compared to other varieties;similar to Conquistador, Sonora and Challenger and lower than Mission.The outer petioles of TBG 29 were fairly short, with all other varietieshaving better length except for Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain which had theshortest joints. The outer petiole width for TBG 29 was slightly lowerthan TBG 34 and equal to ADS-20, but was improved compared to all othervarieties. Celery cultivar TBG 29 also had thicker petioles compared toall other varieties in the trial except for Challenger, which wasthicker. TBG 29 and TBG 34 had the darkest green petioles of allvarieties in the trial. In this trial, there was an unusually high levelof node crack across all varieties. Under these conditions, celerycultivar TBG 29 had less node cracking than all other varieties exceptTBG 33 and Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain.

Tables 17A and 17B show the results of a trial transplanted in Oxnard,Calif. on Mar. 14, 2017 and evaluated Jun. 22, 2017 (100 days) comparingthe characteristics of TBG 29 to celery varieties TBG 34, ADS-1, TBG 33,ADS-20, Conquistador, Sonora, Mission, Challenger, Command, Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75. The trial was grown in acommercial field where there was no fusarium impact. The plantpopulation (58,080 plants to the acre) was higher than the commercialnorm of approximately 45,000 to 47,000 plants to the acre. However, thetrial was evaluated at an over mature stage and many defects werebecoming apparent. Table 17A, column 1 shows the characteristic andcolumns 2-8 show the results for TBG 29, TBG 34, ADS-1, TBG 33, ADS-20,Conquistador and Sonora, respectively. Table 17B, column 1 shows thecharacteristic and columns 2-7 show the results for TBG 29, Mission,Challenger, Command, Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain and Tall Utah 52-75,respectively.

TABLE 17A TBG 29 TBG 34 ADS-1 TBG 33 ADS-20 Conquistador Sonora PlantHeight (cm) Average 80.6 76.1 81.5 88.9 69.4 77.5 75.4 Range (76-87)(74-79) (79-84) (87-92) (20-80) (68-83) (72-82) Whole Plant weight (kg)Average 1.90 1.39 1.59 1.61 1.24 1.36 1.48 Range (1.54-2.26)  (1.2-1.85)(1.46-1.79) (0.177-2.08)    (1-1.44) (0.99-1.9)  (1.17-2.05) TrimmedPlant Weight (kg) Average 1.48 1.11 1.26 1.29 1.00 1.04 1.13 Range(1.23-1.74) (0.98-1.45) (1.13-1.47) (1.03-1.48) (0.78-1.14) (0.73-1.48)(0.88-1.57) Number of Outer Petioles Average 15.8 12.1 13.3 14.7 11.815.5 13.0 Range (13-18)  (9-15) (12-15) (12-18) (10-13) (13-18) (12-16)Number of Inner Petioles Average 6.6 4.8 8.2 5.3 5.4 6.8 7.1 Range (5-8)(4-6) (7-9) (5-7) (5-6) (5-8)  (5-10) Length of Outer Petioles @ Average29.9 29.4 33.1 35.7 31.5 32.7 30.8 joint (cm) Range (26.7-33.7)(20.3-31.7) (31-35) (32.7-39)   (28.3-33)   (30.7-34)   (28-34) Width ofOuter Petioles @ Average 33.0 30.0 29.4 27.9 25.8 24.5 28.3 midrib (mm)Range (29.7-37.3)   (26-33.7) (26.7-33.3) (25.3-30.7) (22-30)  (19-31.7) (23.3-34)   Thickness of Outer Petioles Average 11.5 10.811.2 10.8 10.3 8.9 9.4 @ midrib (mm) Range (10.7-12.3)   (10-12.3)(10-12)  (9.3-11.7) (9.7-12)  (7.7-10)  (8.3-10)  Petiole Color (MunsellColor) 5GY 5/6- 5GY 5/6 5GY 5/6 5GY 6/6- 5GY 6/6 7GY 7/6 5GY 6/6 5GY 6/65GY 5/6 Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Smooth/ Smooth/ SlightRib Smooth/ Slight Rib Smooth/ Slight Rib Slight Rib Slight Rib SlightRib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup/ Slight Cup/ Cup Slight Cup/Slight Cup/ Slight Cup/ Slight Cup/ Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Defects: %Node Crack 10% 40% 40%  20% 40% 50% 70% % Brown Stem  0%  0% 0% 10%  0%40% 30% % Top Pith  0% 20% 0%  0% 10% 100%   0% % Feather Leaf 50%  0%0% 10% 10% 50% 10%

TABLE 17B Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Tall Utah 52- TBG 29 Mission ChallengerCommand Strain 75 Plant Height (cm) Average 80.6 78.5 81.5 77.3 73.974.1 Range (76-87) (74-83) (72-89) (71-85) (71-77) (69-78) Whole Plantweight (kg) Average 1.90 1.63 1.41 1.36 1.14 1.30 Range (1.54-2.26)(1.08-2)   (1.18-1.63) (0.87-1.68) (0.78-1.68) (0.98-1.65) Trimmed PlantWeight (kg) Average 1.48 1.22 1.08 1.09 0.91 1.02 Range (1.23-1.74)(0.84-1.47) (0.93-1.2)   (0.7-1.33) (0.61-1.35) (0.77-1.34) Number ofOuter Petioles Average 15.8 15.1 11.4 14.0 11.7 12.2 Range (13-18)(12-17)  (9-13) (10-17) (10-15) (10-14) Number of Inner Petioles Average6.6 7.0 6.3 6.9 7.1 7.0 Range (5-8) (5-9) (5-8) (6-8)  (6-10) (5-9)Length of Outer Petioles @ Average 29.9 33.2 31.6 30.9 21.7 30.1 joint(cm) Range (26.7-33.7) (30.3-37.7) (26-35) (28.7-32.7) (19.7-32.7)  (26-33.3) Width of Outer Petioles @ Average 33.0 24.5 25.3 23.9 17.226.2 midrib (mm) Range (29.7-37.3) (15.7-28)   (23.3-28.3) (22-27)(15.2-20.3) (23.3-28.3) Thickness of Outer Petioles @ Average 11.5 10.110.6 10.3 6.7 10.7 midrib (mm) Range (10.7-12.3)  (8.7-11.3)  (9.0-12.3) (9.7-11.3)  (5.2-11.3)   (9-12.3) Petiole Color (Munsell Color) 5GY5/6- 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/4- 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/6 5GY 7/6-5GY 5GY 6/6 5GY 7/6 6/6Leaf Color (Munsell Color) 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 4/4 5GY 3/4 5GY 3/4 5GY3/4 Petiole Smoothness Smooth/ Smooth Smooth/ Smooth/ Rib Smooth SlightRib Slight Rib Slight Rib Petiole Cup Slight Cup/ Cup Cup Cup Slight CupSlight Cup/ Cup Cup Defects: % Node Crack 10% 20% 70% 80% 10% 50% %Brown Stem  0% 20% 20% 30% 40% 20% % Top Pith  0% 40% 90% 90% 90% 60% %Feather Leaf 50% 20% 50% 20% 90% 50%

As shown in Tables 17A and 17B, celery cultivar TBG 29 out yielded eachof the other cultivars as measured by whole and trimmed plant weight,but was shorter in plant height compared to ADS-1, Challenger and TBG33. TBG 29 and Conquistador were similar for the highest outer petiolecount of all cultivars. The petiole length for TBG 29 was very similarto that for TBG 34 and Tall Utah 52-75, but was shorter than theremaining cultivars except Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain. Although thepetioles were shorter, celery cultivar TBG 29 had wider and thickerpetioles which helped account for the higher yield. However, under theover mature conditions of this trial, TBG 29 had fairly bad featherleaf. With 50% of the plants showing feather leaf, TBG 29 was comparableto Conquistador, Challenger and Tall Utah 52-75, and only Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain was worse. While TBG 29 had 10% of the plantsexpressing node crack, it was similar to Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain forthe lowest level. Celery cultivar TBG 29 was also free from brown stemand top pith.

Celery cultivar TBG 29 was planted in five trials between 2013 and 2017(Table 18) that compared it with numerous cultivars for boltingtolerance. These trials were transplanted in Santa Paula, Calif. inDecember of each year during a period when temperatures are cooler andthe potential conditions for bolting induction are the highest. Thelevel of bolting was determined via measurement of the seed stem and themore bolting tolerant cultivars were those that had the least seed stemdevelopment.

Under these conditions, celery cultivar TBG 29 consistently had greaterseed stem development compared to ADS-20 and TBG 34, which wereessentially bolting tolerant based on market standards established bythe U.S.D.A. Grade Standards for celery. TBG 29 consistently had lessseed stem development (improved bolting tolerance) compared to Tall Utah52-70 ‘R’ Strain, Tall Utah 52-75, Challenger, Conquistador and TBG 33.Except for 2017, celery cultivar TBG 29 was more bolting tolerant thanCommand and Sonora and more similar to Mission and ADS-1 based on lessor similar seed stem development in two or three of the five years.

Table 18 shows a comparison between celery cultivar TBG 29 and twelveother celery cultivars in different trials grown in the prominentbolting windows in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Santa Paula wasselected for production of these trials because it is not in theprominent coastal plain of Ventura County, Calif. where most West Coastcelery is grown this time of year in order to minimize cold accumulationand the initiation of bolting (development of seed stems). Santa Paulais inland where is there is less warming due to its distance from thewarming influence of the Pacific Ocean. Measurements were for the lengthof the seed stem developed in the celery plant, and more boltingtolerant are considered those varieties with the least amount of seedstem development. In Table 18, the trial header shows the location foreach trial, the harvest date and the number of hours below 50° F. towhich the celery was exposed. Seed stem length is shown in centimeters.Blanks in the data (NA) occur where the particular cultivar was notincluded in the trial and data is ‘not available’.

TABLE 18 Santa Paula, CA Santa Paula, CA Santa Paula, CA Harvest: May 3,2017 (128 Harvest: Apr. 25, 2016 Harvest: Apr. 28, 2015 days) (129 days)(125 days) 608 hours below 50° F. 891 hours below 50° F. 848 hours below50° F. Average Range Median Average Range Median Average Range MedianTBG 29 10.5 (1.5-22)  9.8 26.0 (16-39) 25.5 3.5 (0.2-10)  2.0 TBG 34 0.0(0-0) 0.0 0.0 (0-0) 0.0 0.1   (0-0.3) 0.1 ADS-20 0.0 (0-0) 0.0 0.0 (0-0)0.0 0.1   (0-0.3) 0.0 ADS-1 9.9  (1-23) 7.8 16.4  (9-26) 16.5 8.1(0.2-19)  8.0 TBG 33 14.7 (1.5-2.6) 17.5 46.8 (40-54) 46.0 19.9(0.1-42)  17 Tall Utah 52-70 49.8 (34-67) 48.0 NA NA NA NA NA NA ‘R’Strain Tall Utah 52-75 28.5 (9.5-54)  34.0 40.8 (25-57) 41.0 NA NA NAConquistador 15.6 (7.5-40)  18.0 30.1 (19-40) 29.5 7.2  (0-19) 5.0Sonora 6.7 (1.5-17)  5.3 29.0  (7-41) 32.0 10.3  (1-20) 10.5 Mission13.6   (2-28.2) 13.3 22.1 (12-32) 23.0 3.4  (0-15) 1.3 Challenger 20.3(13.5-25.5) 21.1 30.2 (22-38) 31.0 NA NA NA Command 10.2   (1.5-24.5)9.8 29.7 (19-40) 29.5 18.9  (5-32) 15.5 Monterey NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NANA Santa Paula, CA Santa Paula, CA Harvest: Apr. 14, 2014 Harvest: Apr.28, 2013 (125 days) (127 days) 895 hours below 50° F. 1116 hours below50° F. Average Range Median Average Range Median TBG 29 2.8 (0-7) 2.027.7 (18-42) 26.0 TBG 34 0.0 (0-0) 0.0 2.1 (0-8) 1.0 ADS-20 0.0 (0-0)0.0 0.7 (0-3) 0.0 ADS-1 4.1 (0-9) 4.5 20.3 (10-35) 18.5 TBG 33 14.5 (2-30) 15.5 NA NA NA Tall Utah 52-70 19.5 (13-28) 18.0 41.9 (33-58)38.5 ‘R’ Strain Tall Utah 52-75 18.1 (10-33) 14.5 34.6 (17-44) 37.5Conquistador 10.1  (4-17) 11.0 31.8 (17-39) 33.5 Sonora 12.7  (5-18)12.0 29.8 (18-42) 29.5 Mission 5.1 (0.5-9)   5.0 27.1  (9-41) 26.5Challenger 12.7 (10-15) 12.5 NA NA NA Command 11.1  (7-18) 10.5 31.5(27-39) 31.0 Monterey NA NA NA 33.1 (17-55) 30.5

As shown in Table 18, celery cultivar TBG 29 was most similar to Missionfor tolerance to bolting based on average and median measurements for2013 and 2015. TBG 29 was most similar to Command and improved comparedto Mission in 2017. TBG 29 was similar to ADS-1 for average in 2014 and2017, improved compared to ADS-1 in 2015 (average and median) and medianin 2014. ADS-20 and TBG 34 were consistently the most tolerant forbolting and TBG 29 was consistently more tolerant compared to TBG 33,Tall Utah 52-70 ‘R’ Strain, Tall Utah 52-75, Conquistador andChallenger. Except for 2017, TBG 29 was also more tolerant than Sonora.Based on these results, celery cultivar TBG 29 could be consideredfairly tolerant to bolting.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. Forexample, if the range 10-15 is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 arealso disclosed. All methods described herein can be performed in anysuitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope ofthe invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specificationshould be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essentialto the practice of the invention.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the A. Duda & Sons, Inc. proprietary celery cultivar TBG 29disclosed above and recited in the appended claims has been made withthe American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard,Manassas, Va. 20110 under the terms of the Budapest Treaty. The date ofdeposit was Feb. 16, 2018. The deposit of 2,500 seeds was taken from thesame deposit maintained by A. Duda & Sons, Inc. since prior to thefiling date of this application. All restrictions will be irrevocablyremoved upon granting of a patent, and the deposit is intended to meetall of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.801-1.809. The ATCC AccessionNumber is PTA-124946. The deposit will be maintained in the depositoryfor a period of thirty years, or five years after the last request, orfor the enforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will bereplaced as necessary during that period.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussedabove, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications,permutations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof. It is thereforeintended that the following appended claims and claims hereafterintroduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their truespirit and scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of celery cultivar TBG 29, wherein arepresentative sample seed of said cultivar was deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-124946.
 2. A celery plant, or a part thereof, producedby growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. A tissue culture produced fromprotoplasts or cells from the plant of claim 2, wherein said cells orprotoplasts are produced from a plant part selected from the groupconsisting of leaf, callus, pollen, ovule, embryo, cotyledon, hypocotyl,meristematic cell, root, root tip, pistil, anther, flower, seed, shoot,stem, petiole and sucker.
 4. A celery plant regenerated from the tissueculture of claim 3, wherein said regenerated plant comprises all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of celery cultivar TBG29.
 5. A method for producing a celery seed, said method comprisingcrossing two celery plants and harvesting the resultant celery seed,wherein at least one celery plant is the celery plant of claim
 2. 6. AnF₁ celery seed produced by the method of claim
 5. 7. An F₁ celery plant,or a part thereof, produced by growing said seed of claim
 6. 8. Themethod of claim 5, wherein at least one of said celery plants istransgenic.
 9. A method of producing an herbicide resistant celeryplant, wherein said method comprises introducing a gene conferringherbicide resistance into the plant of claim
 2. 10. A herbicideresistant celery plant produced by the method of claim 9, wherein thegene confers resistance to a herbicide selected from the groupconsisting of glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, dicamba,glufosinate, phenoxy proprionic acid, L-phosphinothricin, cyclohexone,cyclohexanedione, triazine, and benzonitrile, wherein said plantcomprises said gene and otherwise comprises all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of celery cultivar TBG
 29. 11. A method ofproducing a pest or insect resistant celery plant, wherein said methodcomprises introducing a gene conferring pest or insect resistance intothe celery plant of claim
 2. 12. A pest or insect resistant celery plantproduced by the method of claim 11, wherein said plant comprises saidgene and otherwise comprises all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG
 29. 13. The celery plant of claim12, wherein the gene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxin,wherein said plant comprises said gene and otherwise comprises all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of celery cultivarTBG
 29. 14. A method of producing a disease resistant celery plant,wherein said method comprises introducing a gene into the celery plantof claim
 2. 15. A disease resistant celery plant produced by the methodof claim 14, wherein said plant comprises said gene and otherwisecomprises all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofcelery cultivar TBG
 29. 16. A method for producing a male sterile celeryplant, wherein said method comprises transforming the celery plant ofclaim 2 with a nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility.
 17. Amale sterile celery plant produced by the method of claim 16, whereinsaid plant comprises said nucleic acid and otherwise comprises all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of celery cultivarTBG
 29. 18. A method of introducing a desired trait into celery cultivarTBG 29, wherein the method comprises: (a) crossing a TBG 29 plant,wherein a representative sample of seed was deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-124946, with a plant of another celery cultivar thatcomprises a desired trait to produce progeny plants, wherein the desiredtrait is selected from the group consisting of improved nutritionalquality, industrial usage, male sterility, herbicide resistance, insectresistance, modified seed yield, modified lodging resistance, modifiediron-deficiency chlorosis and resistance to bacterial disease, fungaldisease or viral disease; (b) selecting one or more progeny plants thathave the desired trait to produce selected progeny plants; (c)backcrossing the selected progeny plants with the TBG 29 plants toproduce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcross progenyplants that have the desired trait; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d)two or more times in succession to produce selected third or higherbackcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait.
 19. A celeryplant produced by the method of claim 18, wherein the plant has thedesired trait and otherwise all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of celery cultivar TBG
 29. 20. The celery plant of claim19, wherein the desired trait is herbicide resistance and the resistanceis conferred to a herbicide selected from the group consisting ofimidazolinone, dicamba, cyclohexanedione, sulfonylurea, glyphosate,glufosinate, phenoxy proprionic acid, L-phosphinothricin, triazine andbenzonitrile.
 21. The celery plant of claim 19, wherein the desiredtrait is insect resistance and the insect resistance is conferred by agene encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 22. The celery plantof claim 19, wherein the desired trait is male sterility and the traitis conferred by a cytoplasmic nucleic acid molecule.
 23. A method ofproducing a celery plant with modified fatty acid metabolism or modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism comprising transforming the celery plant ofclaim 2 with a transgene encoding a protein selected from the groupconsisting of fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, α-amylase, invertaseand starch branching enzyme or DNA encoding an antisense of stearyl-ACPdesaturase.
 24. A celery plant having modified fatty acid metabolism ormodified carbohydrate metabolism produced by the method of claim 23,wherein said plant comprises said transgene and otherwise comprises allof the physiological and morphological characteristics of celerycultivar TBG 29.